§ MR. F. CAWLEY (Lancashire, Prestwich)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, whether, in view of the fact brought to light by the Royal Commission on Tuberculosis that so many cows suffering from tuberculosis are giving milk which is supplied to consumers, and that the milk from these cows is dangerous to the health of human beings, he is prepared to institute some system by which all cows whose milk is sold for public consumption shall be placed under compulsory inspection?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. HENRY CHAPLIN,) Lincolnshire, SleafordWhile the Report of the Commission of 1895, has dealt fully with the scientific aspects of the matter referred to in the Question, no Report has been made upon the administrative procedures necessary to give effect to the conclusions of the Commission. The Government have assented to the proposal that a Royal Commission should, therefore, be appointed to consider and further report upon these matters. Legislation would be necessary to enable me to order the compulsory inspection of all cows whose milk is sold for public consumption, and I think it should be postponed pending the Inquiry which has been determined on. In the meantime, I may remind the, right boa. Member that it is to be gathered from the Report that by a simple process namely, by boiling the milk—immunity can be insured to the consumer.
§ DR. FARQUHARSON (Aberdeenshire, W.)asked whether it was not the fact that tuberculosis could not be spread from milk unless there was some disease of the udder of the cow; whether inspection could not be made both easy and effective; and whether during the time the new Commission was reporting many lives might not be lost?
§ *MR. SPEAKERI think the hon. Member should give notice of that Question.
§ MR. CHAPLINsaid he had stated that legislation would be necessary to give him the power of compulsory inspection. He had no doubt that there was a great deal in what the hon. Member said, but he could not take action without legislation; and in view of the business before the House it would be impossible this Session.