HC Deb 04 July 1907 vol 177 cc866-7
MR. BRAMSDON (Portsmouth)

I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to statements in an official report of the medical officer of health for Portsmouth that during the past twelve months sixty-seven diseased cows have been sold for human food at sums varying from 20s. to 80s. at certain country markets, and that the diseased meat of most of these cows has been disposed of in London; and, in the event of these statements being proved correct, what steps His Majesty's Government propose to take to prevent such a state of affairs.

I beg also to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether his attention has been called to statements in an official report by the medical officer of health of Portsmouth to the effect that the milk from cows badly diseased with tuberculosis is systematically sold; and whether, taking into consideration the statement in the interim Report of the Royal Commission on Human and Animal Tuberculosis to the effect that a considerable amount of disease and loss of life, especially amongst the young, must be attributed to the consumption of cow's milk containing tubercle bacilli, together with the Returns of the Registrar-General, which show that 10,000 children under five years of age die annually from various forms of tuberculosis, he will consider the advisability of the introduction by His Majesty's Government of legislation to prevent the keeping of tubercular cows on dairy farms.

The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. John-Burns, Battersea)

I am aware of the Reports referred to. As regards the former Question, I do not gather that it has been ascertained that the diseased meat of the cows mentioned in it has been disposed of in London, although London is stated to be the probable destination of many of the animals. I may point out that if any diseased animal or meat intended for the food of man is exposed for sale it is liable to inspection and seizure. The matters, however, to which the Questions relate are receiving my consideration.