§ 60. Sir ARNOLD WILSONasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the statement in the report of the medical officer of health of Bootle that, of 13 samples of pasteurised milk taken from two licensed plants of modern design erected in the previous year, only eight conformed to official standards, and of 21 samples of school milk only 15 came up to standard; and whether, in view of the proved inefficiency of many modern pasteurising plants, as shown by the official report of Sir M. Dalrymple-Chalmers, and of similar reports from other county boroughs, he will initiate fresh scientific inquiries into this matter?
§ Mr. R. S. HUDSONMy right hon. Friend is aware of the 'statement in the annual report of the medical officer of health for Bootle. My Department in May, 1935, circulated to local authorities a detailed memorandum on the requirements for ensuring the efficient working of pasteurisation plants, and on 24th April last, in a circular letter, my right hon. Friend again drew their attention to the matter. He then suggested that they should survey all licensed plants in their areas and cause frequent inspections to be adopted in future. My right hon. Friend does not consider that any fresh scientific inquiry is at present required on this subject, but rather continuous activity on the part of the licensing authorities in supervising the operation of pasteurisation plants.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that pasteurised milk is simply half-boiled milk and that anybody who has a gas-ring can pasteurise milk; and is this not simply an attempt on the part of big corporations to take a "rake off" the food supplies of the people?
§ Brigadier-General CLIFTON BROWNHas the hon. Gentleman seen the report of the Reading Agricultural College that a disturbingly high proportion of samples taken are contaminated?
§ Mr. HUDSONThat appears to emphasise the need for local authorities to follow the advice of the Ministry and to exercise strict supervision over the pasteurising plants in their areas.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that owing to the use of unpasteurised milk at Bournemouth, there were 500 cases of typhoid and 40 deaths?
§ Mr. MACQUISTENCould not pasteurised milk have that effect just as much as non-pasteurised milk, and does not the questioner represent one of the main collarers of the people's food?