§ 34. Sir W. de FRECEasked the Minister of Health whether there is any increase, according to official statistics, in the adulteration of milk; whether all local authorities are expected annually to carry out any fixed or approximate number of tests; and whether he will take steps to see that such tests are generally carried out?
§ Sir K. WOODThe official statistics indicate a progressive decrease in the adulteration of milk, the percentage of samples reported by public analysts as adulterated or below the presumptive standards being 6.9 in 1927 as compared with 7.4 in 1926 and 9.3 in 1920. There is no specific requirement as to the number of samples to be taken annually by a local authority, but it is the practice of my Department to communicate from time to time with these authorities which do not seem to be taking a sufficient number to provide a proper check on adulteration.