§ 44. Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Food what progress has been made in the specification of areas under the Food and Drugs (Milk, Dairies and Artificial Cream) Act, 1950 and the Milk (Special Designations) Act, 1949, for the purpose of protecting the public against milk-borne diseases.
Dr. HillForty-eight per cent. of the population of England and Wales and 63 per cent. of the population of Scotland reside in areas specified by Orders which have been made or which are now laid, in draft, before Parliament. Surveys are proceeding with a view to specification of further areas.
§ Dr. BroughtonWhile thanking the hon. Gentleman for that information, and understanding that a good deal of the credit goes to the previous Government, may I ask him to let us know, if he can, the approximate date by which the public will be protected against the dangers of bovine tuberculosis by the whole nation's milk supply being either pasteurised or coming from tuberculin tested herds?
Dr. HillI sympathise with the hon. Gentleman's purpose, but it is impossible to forecast when the work of surveying the country will be completed.