§ 63. Mr. Robert Morganasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the proposal to supply liquid milk to municipalities for the use of young children and infants at their homes, as outlined by the Ministry Circular No. 1840, dealing with a reduced price scheme, is held by many to constitute a menace to their health; and that practically every medical officer of health is opposed to its use on these grounds, recognising that dried milk, which has been used for the last 30 years with striking results, cannot be supplanted by any form of liquid milk without danger to the health of the infantile population of the country; and whether he will, therefore, take steps to prevent the substitution of liquid for dried milk in these cases?
§ Mr. ElliotI am aware that in some circumstances dried milk may have advantages over liquid for supply to young children, but I cannot accept the general propositions set out in the first and second parts of the Question. I would add that, in order to guard against the danger which my hon. Friend has in mind, the scheme to which he refers contains the provision that the quality of milk supplied 2252 shall be approved by the medical officer of health.