HC Deb 23 April 1953 vol 514 cc1381-2
20. Mr. Hollis

asked the Minister of Agriculture the policy of Her Majesty's Government in regard to the supply of tuberculin-tested milk.

Sir T. Dugdale

Under the Milk (Special Designation) (Raw Milk) Regulations, 1949, applications received after 30th September, 1954, for the issue and renewal of licences to use the designation "Tuberculin-Tested" will only be approved in respect of attested herds. The success of the attested herds scheme has made it possible to add this more stringent test to the present requirements of animal health and hygiene in the dairy.

Mr. Hollis

Is my right hon. Friend aware that when farmers go T.T. there are some health officers who take them off the list of distributors of milk to schools? Can anything be done about that? Is he further aware that if we approach the Ministry of Health about this we are referred to the Ministry of Education, and if we go to the Ministry of Education we are referred to the Ministry of Health, and that I am trying my right hon. Friend out on the principle of the three-card trick?

Sir T. Dugdale

The mere fact that my hon. Friend has raised this Question in the House will bring it more closely to my attention than before. The scheme is going extremely well and we are getting more and more absolutely clean milk in the country.

Mr. J. Johnson

Is it not a fact that farmers with T.T. herds are losing money because of Government policy, and feel that they are not getting a square deal because the Government are placing more emphasis upon beef farming than upon the production of milk?

Sir T. Dugdale

That is a wider question, but I cannot agree with the hon. Gentleman that farmers who go in for T.T. milk are losing money. They are getting benefit out of the scheme.