§ 39. Brigadier - General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the report of the Milk Commission as to the condition of some of the smaller pasteurisation plants in the country; whether these plants are periodically inspected; and what steps he is taking to see that safe milk is produced by the pasteurisation processes in use.
Sir H. YOUNGI am aware of the remarks in the report respecting pasteurisation. Under the law there is no control of the process except in the case of milk which is sold under licence as "pasteurised milk." Establishments so licensed are subject to inspection by the officers of the local authority granting the licence, and it is one of the conditions for a licence that the type of apparatus and the methods employed shall be satisfactory to the authority. An officer of my Department is making general inquiries into the efficiency of plants and I propose to issue a memorandum for the guidance of local authorities and their officers in their inspection of such plants.
Brigadier-General BROWNMay I ask my right hon. Friend if he does not think 526 that the report is right when it says that no milk should be allowed to be sold unless it has been treated by officially controlled processes, does he think that there is any control, and, if there is no control, will he seek to impose some control of these various processes, which in many cases are not safe?
§ Sir FRANCIS FREMANTLEWill my right hon. Friend include in his memorandum a suggestion that the veterinary surgeons to be appointed should include this as part of their training and responsibilities, so as to have only one inspector instead of two?
§ Mr. LEVYIs my right hon. Friend aware of the fact that a number of these firms cannot obtain certificates and licences for their milk because of the insufficiency of water for cooling purposes?