§ 20. Brigadier - General CLIFTON BROWNasked the Minister of Health whether he will advise county medical authorities to sanction the use of any milk for school children which is produced by a registered producer who is qualified under the Milk Marketing Board's new accredited milk scheme?
§ The MINISTER of HEALTH (Sir Hilton Young)No, Sir. I am advised that milk which has been efficiently pasteurised is safer than raw Grade A milk. The Board of Education has recommended that it should be provided for school children wherever it is available, a recommendation to which I agree.
Brigadier-General BROWNIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that at the present time many medical officers of health are insisting on a supply of pastuerised milk, whereas in many villages they cannot get such a supply? Is not that most unfair?
§ Sir H. YOUNGNo, Sir. I think my hon. and gallant Friend will see from the terms of my reply that it would be improper for me to interfere with the discretion of the medical officers of health in this matter.
§ Major COLFOXDoes not this provision which requires pastuerised milk make sheer humbug of the scheme, so much advertised by the Government, for granting milk to school children?
§ Sir H. YOUNGNo, Sir. No such implication arises.
§ Major-General Sir ALFRED KNOXIs not this pastuerisation of milk purely in the interests of the big combines and very detrimental to the small producers, who cannot possibly afford the plant?
§ Sir H. YOUNGThe pastuerisation of milk is in the interests of the health of the children.
§ Sir H. YOUNGThere is no evidence for such an allegation.
Brigadier-General BROWNDoes not this mean that the right hon. Gentleman disapproves of his own Grade "A" milk scheme?
§ Sir H. YOUNGNo, Sir.