§ MR. COURTHOPE (Sussex, Rye)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade from what countries fresh milk and cream is imported into this country; and whether satisfactory regulations are in force in the countries of origin providing for the sanitary conditions under which such milk and cream is produced and handled.
The hon. Member also had the following Questions on the Paper:—
To ask the President of the Board of Trade through what ports of entry fresh milk and cream are imported into this country.
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what quantities of fresh milk and cream per week are now entering this country from abroad; and how such quantities compare with those of a year ago.
1032 To ask the President of the Local. Government Board whether, owing to the rapid increase of imports of fresh milk and cream, and the uncertainty of the sanitary conditions under which such milk and cream is produced, he will make stringent regulations for the inspection and examination of imported milk and cream at the ports of entry.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. JOHN BURNS,) BatterseaOrdinarily the supply of fresh milk from abroad is insignificant, but owing to a shortage in home supplies there has been an exceptional importation during the last few weeks. The quantity of fresh milk imported into this country in the first seven weeks of this year was 697 cwt. as compared with 15 cwt. in the corresponding weeks of last year, whilst of cream the quantity imported was 1,172 cwt. as compared with 690 cwt. The milk is imported from France and landed at Southampton. The cream comes from France, Russia, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and the Argentine Republic and is landed at London, Harwich, Hull, Newhaven, Newcastle, Southampton, Leith and Grangemouth. The information in my possession is not sufficient to enable me to say how far satisfactory regulations are in force in the countries of origin as to the sanitary conditions under which the milk and cream are produced and handled. I am arranging to have some samples of imported milk examined as to bacterial contamination and presence of dirt and I will give consideration to the subject of regulations in relation both to milk and to cream.