HC Deb 02 April 1962 vol 657 cc1-3
1. Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he takes to ensure that imported dairy products are produced in conditions as hygienic as those required in this country.

The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Christopher Soames)

I cannot control the conditions in which imported dairy products are produced. But medical officers of health are empowered to examine them on importation or sale in this country, and to seize them if they are unfit for human consumption.

Mr. Digby

Does not this detract from the value to health of our own rather stringent regulations, which are obviously not followed in many of the countries from which we import dairy produce?

Mr. Soames

No, Sir. There is obviously a difference between what we are empowered to do and can do in our own country and what we are not empowered to do in other countries. The vast proportion of milk produced in this country goes for liquid consumption.

Mr. C. Royle

In view of the report in the newspapers the other day of the intention of the Milk Marketing Board to pour millions of gallons of milk down disused coal mines, is it not possible to reduce our imports?

Mr. Soames

This is a Question concerned purely with the hygienic conditions under which the milk is produced. What the hon. Member has asked is very wide of the Question.

2. Mr. Wingfield Digby

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in his recent conversations with the Common Market countries, he emphasised the need for parity in regulations for milk production, with particular regard to cowstalls, if competition is to be fair.

Mr. Soames

We have not yet reached the stage of discussing this sort of problem with the Six, but I have the point raised by my hon. Friend very much in mind.

Mr. Digby

If there is to be fair competition, either some of the Six will have to raise their standards of cowstall production, or we shall have to lower ours. Otherwise, the competition will be very unfair.

Mr. Soames

This is a matter which is very much in my mind. I hope that there will be a levelling up rather than a levelling down of standards.