§ MR. SILCOCK (Somersetshire, Wells)To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether his attention has been drawn to a case at the Cardiff City Police Court on Thursday, 4th January last, when J. E. Counsell, of Somersetshire, was summoned for selling milk not of the nature and quality demanded and fined £20 and costs; whether he is aware that evidence was given that the milk arrived at Cardiff at 6.18 p.m. on 21st November and was left exposed on the railway company's premises until the next morning before the inspector took a sample; that the churn had meanwhile been tampered with, and that a gallon of milk had been abstracted; and whether in view of the fact that farmers are held responsible for the quality of milk long after it has passed beyond their control, he will consider whether they will advise local authorities to take railway samples of milk immediately on arrival of the consignment at the station, or deal with the matter in any other way.
(Answered by Sir Edward Strachey.) The attention of the President of the Board of Agriculture has been directed to this case, and inquiry is being made respecting it. I will communicate with the hon. Member again so soon as the inquiry is completed.