§ 3. Sir Richard Glynasked the Secretary of State for Industry, Trade and Regional Development whether he will seek the necessary powers to prevent the imports into the United Kingdom of liquid milk for sale by retail which has been produced from herds or on premises 563 not subject to inspection on health or sanitary grounds by the Minister of Agriculture.
§ Mr. du CannNo, Sir. Any restrictions on imports of milk on health grounds would be a matter for my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Minister of Health. I understand that there are in fact no commercial imports of liquid milk at the present time.
§ Sir Richard GlynWould my hon. Friend agree that liquid milk now sold in this country is of the very highest quality and produced from herds on premises carefully checked by the Ministry concerned and that any control of imported milk which might be of a less high quality, perhaps having a high bacteriological content, would ultimately be a question for his Department? In view of the delay which has sometimes occurred through his Department having to check undesirable imports of food in the past, will he look at this matter again?
§ Mr. du CannI can assure my hon. Friend that the points which he has made will certainly receive attention. I realise that he has a special and particular knowledge of the subject. I would not feel myself obliged to accept everything that he has said this afternoon, but we will certainly look at the matter.