§ 27. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Health the gallonage of fresh milk supplied to the Dartford group of hospitals in 1953; and the comparable figure for 1951.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe amounts were 115,218 and 124,113 gallons respectively.
§ Mr. DoddsI appreciate the need for economy in any Government service, but will the Minister bear in mind that there is cause for some concern at the fact that in two years the use of skimmed milk powder has increased by 50 per cent, and the gallonage of fresh milk, of which there is plenty, has gone down? Will he see that this process is not overdone in the interests of economy?
§ Mr. MacleodOf course I shall bear that in mind, but the figures I have for this particular group show that there has been an increase from 7,000 lb. to 9,300 lb. in the supply of powdered milk, which is clearly not of the order of 50 per cent. Powdered milk is used in these instances only in bulk cooking.
§ Mr. DoddsIn view of what the Minister has just said, will he refer to the answer he gave to a Question on 11th February, when he said that in 1951 the use of milk powder was 5.3 per cent, and in 1953 it was 7½per cent.? Is not that an increase of 50 per cent.? Will not he look at these figures again before he answers the next Question on this subject?
§ Mr. MacleodI have given accurate figures. There is all the difference in the world between an increase in percentage and an increase in the amount used.