61. Brigadier-General Brownasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been directed to the recent Report of the Agricultural Research Council complaining that milk churns are frequently returned by the dealer to the producer unsterilised and grossly contaminated by bacteria; and whether he will consider an official definition of cleanliness and make this practice a fineable offence?
§ Mr. ElliotThe Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, places a duty on the dealer to cleanse churns thoroughly before returning them to the producer, and on the producer to cleanse and scald with boiling water or steam all vessels used by him for containing milk. Failure to carry out these duties is a fineable offence. I am not at present satisfied that an attempt at closer definition would assist in the administration of the law.
§ 76. Sir Joseph Leechasked the Minister of Health the means by which local authorities under their by-laws or by statute make certain that returned empty small glass receptacles and returned empty metal containers used in the retail and wholesale distribution of milk are rendered physically and bacteriologically clean before re-use as milk containers?
§ Mr. ElliotThe Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, requires every vessel used for containing milk to be kept at all times in a state of thorough cleanliness and in particular to be washed after use and cleansed and scalded with boiling water or steam before it is used again.