§ 2.50 p.m.
§ Baroness SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
The Question was as follows:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will affix a health warning to bottles of unpasteurised milk.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of INDUSTRY (Lord Beswick)My Lords, as announced in another place on 29th November 1974, Her Majesty's Government are considering the policy 1244 in relation to milk-borne diseases and the sale of untreated milk for human consumption, and consultations with the interests concerned are now in progress.
§ Baroness SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether he will hasten this inquiry?—because many medical authorities believe that the outbreak of salmonella infections can be attributed to the consumption of unpasteurised milk.
§ Lord BESWICKYes, my Lords, I will certainly see whether something can be done to expedite this matter. The anxieties are recognised and I hope that it will not be too long before some recommendation is made.
§ Lord DOUGLAS of BARLOCHMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether consideration will also be given to date-stamping milk?
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, I think that that is another question.
§ Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONEMy Lords, will the noble Lord remember that some of us do not like homogenised, peptonised, pasteurised, denaturised chalk-coloured liquid mixed in silver coloured bottles, as it is normally purveyed to the public? As a former producer of farm-bottled Jersey milk, may I ask the noble Lord whether he will consider its superior taste and nutrient properties?
§ Lord BESWICKAll of which consideration is sometimes forgotten, my Lords, if there is an outbreak of salmonellosis.
§ Lord SWAYTHLINGMy Lords, will the noble Lord agree that there are many people who are of the opinion that properly produced and properly bottled, farm-bottled, untreated milk is no more dangerous than pasteurised milk, provided it is kept in proper conditions? Will the noble Lord also agree that there are many people who wish to have untreated milk rather than be compelled to drink pasteurised milk?
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, I understand that there has been a certain amount of market research, and it is a fact that some people prefer untreated milk. But it is also a fact that some people would prefer not to have it if an 1245 alternative were available. As my noble friend Lady Summerskill said, there have been outbreaks of diseases which have been traced to untreated milk.
§ Lord WYNNE-JONESMy Lords, would my noble friend agree that Her Majesty's Government should always ensure that people get pure milk free of bacteria, and that, if they choose to drink the sort of milk which has been referred to by the noble and learned Lord, they should at least know what risks they are running?
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, that is the point that I tried to put to the noble and learned Lord opposite, but I am not certain that the point sunk in.
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that probably everyone in this Chamber has been brought up on unpasteurised milk, and that I think they all look very well?
§ Lord BESWICKMy Lords, possibly we should have some thought for those who did not reach our state.