§ 27. Mr. Walderasked the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food why the routine visits of milk officers to registered dairy farmers are to be made in future without prior appointment with the farmer concerned.
§ Mr. John MackieUnannounced routine visits by milk officers are not new and are often unavoidable owing to the need for economy and efficiency. The officer normally calls on the farmer or his representative before making an inspection. The hon. Member may have in mind instructions given locally requiring follow-up visits to be made without notice only after the milk producer has been advised at an earlier visit that this may be done. These instructions are intended to save time and transport without discourtesy.
§ Mr. WalderIs not the Minister aware that many farmers regard this as an unnecessary duplication, as their milk is inspected and their premises are inspected—often, in the case of the producer retailer, by two authorities independently?
§ Mr. MackieI do not think so. My own experience, and that of other farmers, is that there is a considerable amount of good will between the milk officers and the farming community, because the farming community know what those officers are there to do. So far, 454 we have not found anything of the kind to which the hon. Member refers.