§ 5. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Food what precautions are taken by his Department to ensure that the public are supplied with milk of a reasonable quality.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeStandards governing the composition of milk and its cleanliness and safety are laid down in Statutory Regulations. These are administered by local authorities. I am also empowered to specify areas in which only milk of special designation may be retailed, and I am doing so as quickly as conditions permit.
§ Mr. DoddsIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware of the spate of protests about the deterioration of milk that have been made recently by county councils and city councils, who, state that cows are now being produced for a higher yield of milk and not for 2123 quality? They are asking that the Government should look into the matter with a view to safeguarding the standards of milk.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThere is a minimum standard laid down—
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeNo, it is not too low. The minimum standard is, in fact, below the average of the fat content. The average milk content throughout the country, therefore, is above what is laid down by statute. In any case, the local authorities could take action if they wanted to.
§ Mr. HurdIn looking at this problem, will my right hon. and gallant Friend bear in mind that the records of the Milk Marketing Board show that there is a steady improvement in the quality of milk as regards butter fat and solids not fat?
§ Mr. ShurmerIs the Minister aware that recently the city analyst of Birmingham made a statement that the milk standard is deteriorating fast and that there should be a standard below which no milk should be sold?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeAs far as the city of Birmingham is concerned, under the Milk (Special Designations) Act that is one of the cities which, I hope, will shortly be an area in which only the special designated milk can be sold.