§ Mr. STANIERasked whether the Development Commissioners have made any Grant for enabling milk records to be kept in England as they have done in Scotland; and whether the Board of Agriculture have asked for a similar Grant for England?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe Board have recently made an application for a Grant from the Development Fund for this purpose, which is now under consideration.
§ Mr. STANIERThrough whom will it be worked—through the colleges and institutions of the country?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI should hope it would be worked more through the societies which are directly interested in dairy farming, but I can give no details at present. The matter is under discussion.
§ Mr. STANIERasked the President of the Local Government Board whether mystin, used as a preservative for milk, is allowed under the Regulations of the Board; and whether it contains sodium nitrate, and is therefore a danger to a person consuming it?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)Draft Regulations have been prepared by the Local Government Board prohibiting the addition of any preservative substance to milk intended for sale for human consumption. Notice of these Regulations was I given in the "London Gazette" of the 971 22nd instant, in accordance with the provisions of the Rules Publication Act, 1893. I am advised that "mystin" contains sodium nitrite (not nitrate), and that this is a drug with a powerful physiological action.
§ Mr. STANIERMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman what articles are included?
§ Mr. BURNSI would advise my hon. Friend to wait until the Regulations are submitted to those concerned. He will then see what articles are included.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYMay I ask when these Draft Regulations will be circulated?
§ Mr. TOUCHEasked the President of the Local Government Board if he can say approximately what proportion of the fresh milk imported from abroad is examined bacterially in regard to tubercle, and how long it takes to examine a sample; and has any tubercle been found in the samples reported on in recent months?
§ Mr. BURNSDuring the last five months of last year fifty consignments of fresh milk were imported. Forty-three samples were examined bacteriologically, but in no case was the tubercle organism found to be present. A conclusion that the organism is absent is not arrived at until six weeks after the receipt of the sample.