HC Deb 28 July 1922 vol 157 cc958-9

(1) A person shall not, either by himself or by any servant or agent, except under and in accordance with a licence granted by the Minister of Health or with his authority under the provisions of an Order made by him under this Act— (b) on or in connection with any sale or offer for sale or proposed sale of any milk or in any advertisement, circular, or notice relating to any milk, describe or refer to the same as "certified," "Grade A," "pasteurised" or by any other designation prescribed as aforesaid, or use any other description or designation including or resembling any such description or designation.

Mr. WATERSON

I beg to move, at the end of Sub-section (1, b), to insert the words Provided that any Order issued by the Minister under this Act shall not exclude from the definition of pasteurisation for the purpose of this Section any apparatus or method of pasteurisation which produces milk shown upon a bacterial test to be a milk which does not endanger the public health. My right hon. Friend will remember the Debate which took place in Committee on the subject of pasteurisation. I am particularly anxious that the people to-day who in reality possess something like 90 per cent. of the plant for pasteurisation shall not have any Order made that will compel them immediately to take away their plant, in order to substitute some plant or process which may be suitable to the Ministry under the Order issued. We want to safeguard these people, because we feel it should not so much depend on the class of machinery through which the milk has passed, but should be regarded from the bacteriological standpoint. While people engaged in this business of pasteurising milk are anxious to put on the market a milk that is clean and safe, and which will not endanger the public health, we do feel that the position in which many find themselves should be safeguarded, and the object of moving an Amendment of this description is to give to these people some opportunity to protect themselves against any Order that may be issued by the Ministry. I do hope my right hon. Friend has gone a little more fully into this question than he did on Second Reading.

Mr. R. YOUNG

I beg to second the Amendment.

Sir A. MOND

I well remember we discussed this question in Committee, and the hon. Member introduced this very Amendment. I gave an assurance that no Order would be issued until the matter had been fully investigated, and that Order would be before the House. It is impossible for me to accept an Amendment to compel directions to be given as to the form in which that Order is to be made. If my hon. Friend will rely on the assurance, that all these things will be fully gone into when the Order comes before the House, a question can be raised on that specific Order.

Mr. WATERSON

I beg leave to withdraw the Amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.