HC Deb 09 May 1898 vol 57 cc668-9
MR. HEYWOOD JOHNSTONE (Sussex, Horsham)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board, if his attention has been called to the recent Report of Mr. Consul Gurney on the Trade and Agriculture of Cherbourg and district, and particularly to the paragraphs which refer to the large and increasing export of fresh milk to this country, and to the statement that such milk is prepared for export by the admixture of some unknown antiseptic, and that a certificate from a medical authority to the effect that the antiseptic was in itself innocuous would certainly be welcome and reassuring; and if he will take steps to obtain such a certificate, and also a guarantee (as suggested by Mr. Consul Gurney) that no milk imported into this country has ever come from dairies where any of the inmates of the farm are suffering from infectious disease, and generally to insure that imported fresh milk is subject to the same sanitary safeguards and restrictions as milk produced in this country?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. H. CHAPLIN,) Lancashire, Sleaford

I am aware of the Report referred to and the statement it contains. I entirely agree with my honourable Friend in what I understand to be the object of his Question, namely, that every precaution should be taken that milk imported into this country should be innocuous to public health. I have already taken steps for the chemical and bacteriological analysis of the milk imported from abroad; but with regard to the other guarantees that my honourable Friend desires, namely, that the milk imported from France has not come from dairies where any of the inmates of the farm are suffering from infectious disease, and is subject to the same sanitary safeguards and restrictions as milk produced in this country, that is a matter which at present is beyond my control. My honourable Friend, however, is mistaken as to the large and increasing character of the trade from Cherbourg. The figures for the present year are as follows: January, 20,500 gallons; February, 28,500 gallons; March, 14,000 gallons; April, 528 gallons (value £12).