HC Deb 20 December 1927 vol 212 cc221-3
60 and 61. Mr. LAMB

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will state the list of countries where the importation, manufacture, or sale of tinned machined-skimmed milk is entirely prohibited;

(2) if there are any countries which permit the importation of machine- skimmed milk without any regard to the quantity of fat it contains; and how many countries impose a tax on such milk containing less than a reasonable quatity of fat?

Sir B. CHADWICK

I have been asked to reply to these questions. I can only refer my hon. Friend to the answers given him on 6th December, by the President of the Board of Trade.

Mr. LAMB

Is the hon. Gentleman not aware that the President of the Board said if I put a question he would give me particulars of those countries?

Sir B. CHADWICK

I can only refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given. If he will communicate with me I will see that he gets any information that is available.

62. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTE

asked the Minister of Health whether any representations have reached him from medical officers of health with regard to the low food-value of tinned machine-skimmed milk; and, if so, what these representations have been?

Sir K. WOOD

My right hon. Friend has no record of the reception of any such representations.

63. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTE

asked the Minister of Health what is the average cost of a quart of pure milk as compared with a quart of tinned skimmed milk; and what has been the actual amount of money spent by the British public on the latter commodity for each of the last six completed years?

Mr. BETTERTON

I have been asked to reply. The average retail price of fresh milk, as calculated from data collected by the Ministry of Labour from retailers in over 500 localities, was 6½d. per quart at 1st December. I have no information as to the prices of tinned skimmed milk or as to the money spent on that commodity.

64. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTE

asked the Minister of Health if he can state the result of analytical tests of the food value of one pennyworth of average pure new milk against one pennyworth of tinned machine-skimmed milk; and what is the percentage of fat in an ordinary sample of the latter?

Sir K. WOOD

As regards the chief nutritive constituents of milk other than fat, rather more of these can be obtained for one penny from condensed skimmed milk than from ordinary milk. As far as energy value is concerned, considerably more is supplied by condensed skimmed milk, owing largely to the sugar which it contains. The poorness in fat, however, which amounts to about 5 per cent., renders this milk unsuitable for infant feeding.