HC Deb 23 March 1932 vol 263 cc1032-3
38. Mr. GLOSSOP

asked the hon. Member for Monmouth, as Chairman of the Kitchen Committee, whether he is aware that milk supplied in the Members' tea room on Wednesday, 16th instant, was found on analysis to contain 2,000,000 bacteria per c.c. and bacillus coli present in 1/1,000 c.c.; that the lowest standard graded milk is not allowed to contain more than 200,000 bacteria c.c. and no bacillus coli whatsoever; and what steps he proposes to take in order to safeguard the health of those Members who consume milk with their tea?

Sir JOHN GANZONI (for Sir LEOLIN FORESTIER-WALKER)

All milk provided by the Kitchen Committee is pure full cream, pasteurised milk, of the first quality. It is delivered in the original 10-gallon cans sealed and fastened from the same dairyman who has supplied us for over 20 years. As the Committee had no notice from the hon. Member that a sample was being taken on Wednesday, 16th March, until the question appeared on the Order Paper on Tuesday, 22nd March, they can have no knowledge as to whether it was properly taken, if in a perfectly sterile vessel, kept at a suitable temperature, and analysed immediately afterwards. The Committee take every precaution to ensure the purity of the supply.

Mr. GLOSSOP

Is the hon. Member aware of the very unsatisfactory results of the test which has been carried out on rats after feeding them with pasteurised milk, and, in view of the fact that this House contains so many young Members for whom milk should still form an essential part of the diet—

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member must concentrate his question in shorter form.

Mr. GLOSSOP

May I ask the hon. Member to make every effort possible to prevent any Members of this House from being unnecessarily eliminated by these bacteria?

Sir J. GANZONI

I had no knowledge that either the hon. Member or his friends were contemplating ratting, but such precautions are being taken.