§ 140. Sir WILLIAM DAVISONasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to recent Russian official statements as to the insanitary conditions of many of the farms where milk is produced in Russia; and what steps are being taken to see that the large quantities of butter which are being imported into this country from Soviet Russia are manufactured under hygienic conditions such as are required from British and Dominion farmers?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Mr. Ernest Brown)My right hon. Friend is aware of statements in the Press on this matter. Russian butter with other foods is subject to examination on arrival under the Imported Food Regulations and the Preservatives Regulations. My Department has not investigated the conditions under which the butter is produced, but arrangements were made last summer for samples of the butter to be examined bacteriologically. The reports on these examinations were satisfactory, but my right hon. Friend is considering the desirability of further similar examinations.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the facts referred to are taken from a Russian official statement, and does he not think his Department should take notice of official statements with regard to an article of food?
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEDoes the hon. Gentleman recognise that any examination of milk products is quite unsatisfactory and unreliable and that, in order to get it reliable, you must examine the conditions of production at the source.
§ Sir JOSEPH LAMBWhy is it not necessary to examine at the source of supply in foreign countries seeing it is necessary in this country?
§ Sir W. DAVISONWhy are different conditions required for British and Dominion farmers?
§ Mr. BROWNMy Department is concerned with the quality of the butter, and examination has beer made and will be pursued if necessary.