HC Deb 05 November 1930 vol 244 cc856-7
51. Mr. de ROTHSCHILD

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he intends to discontinue the provision of imported dried milk to the members of the Royal Air Force stationed at Halton camp, in one of the principal dairying districts in England, and to take steps to have fresh healthy milk supplied to them in its stead?

52. Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWN

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the members of the Air Force at Halton camp are supplied with reconstituted milk made by an emulsifier instead of with fresh milk; and what are the countries in which the ingredients of this beverage are produced?

Mr. MONTAGUE

Milk is not an item of the public ration scale for the Royal Air Force at Home, but, with some other articles of diet, is purchased locally by airmen themselves out of a daily cash allowance. The airmen's messing committee are free to decide upon the type of milk to be purchased, and at Halton they decided to use emulsified milk, made on the station by their own emulsifier. The ingredients at present used are Canadian milk powder and New Zealand fresh butter. The product satis- fies the Royal Air Force medical authorities, and it is not proposed to interfere in what is considered to be a domestic matter of the unit.

Mr. BEAUMONT

Is the hon. Member aware that the reason for that change was the inordinate profits that were made out of fresh milk by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute? Does he propose to take any steps to prevent those inordinate profits being made?

Mr. MONTAGUE

I am not aware of the truth of that statement, and I would like to point out that this regulation for local option, as it were, is a very old-established one in the Army as well as in the Air Force.

Mr. BEAUMONT

When the hon. Member talks about local option, is he aware that the unit is compelled to buy through the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute, and it is the question of their profits which prevents this milk being bought locally?

Mr. MONTAGUE

I will look into that point. I was not aware of the point suggested. So far as the answer to the question is concerned, I do not think I can add anything to what I have said.

Brigadier-General BROWN

Is it the policy of the Air Ministry to provide all the air depots with iron cows, instead of dealing with the sellers of milk locally?