HC Deb 24 February 1976 vol 906 cc170-2
6. Mrs. Chalker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps she is taking to replace National Dried Milk with more acceptable and safer brands of proprietary dried milk.

Mr. Meacher

I hope shortly to be able to announce arrangements to supply proprietary brands of modified milk free of charge to those entitled to free supplies under the present scheme.

Mrs. Chalker

Will the Minister undertake, first, to consult the obstetricians and paediatricians—which he did not do when the Government removed National Dried Milk for babies under the age of six months—before making any recommendation which, like the last one, may stir up a great deal of fear and unhappiness amongst mothers and doctors who get the wrong end of the stick through Press reports?

Mr. Meacher

As the hon. Lady has rightly acknowledged, the anxieties that were generated were largely due to the sensationalist way in which certain persons in the Press tended to treat my announcement. As for consultation, following the report of the Chief Medical Officer's Committee on medical aspects of food policy in 1974, we set up a further committee to examine this matter. That committee reported in December 1975. We certainly have undertaken very full consultations on this highly technical question.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is most important that his Department continues to supply a form of National Dried Milk? Will he say what steps he is taking, and when the results of those steps will be known, to produce a new formula for National Dried Milk that will be in line with the guidelines issued earlier by his Department? Will he also give an indication of the relative cost of a new formula for National Dried Milk, compared with the proprietary brands that have approval at present?

Mr. Meacher

I have said that we are considering the option of reformulating National Dried Milk. I am having consultations on this issue with my right hon. Friends responsible for the health departments of Scotland and Wales. There are some difficulties. I cannot at this stage tell my hon. Friend what the cost is likely to be. However, I hope that in the interval prior to its introduction we shall be able to give full protection to needy families, in terms of getting the type of modified milk powders that they require.

Dr. Vaughan

I am glad to hear the Minister agree that his Department's handling of this matter has created needless alarm. Is it now his intention to amend the Welfare Food Order 1975?

Mr. Meacher

We are undertaking consultations with the manufacturers in order to make the necessary amendments to the Welfare Food Order 1975, to ensure that needy families will be able to obtain modified milk powders under the present arrangements. However, even prior to those consultations they were able to obtain modified milk powders at a price that represents the cost to the health authorities plus a 10 per cent. handling charge. That price is substantially below the commercial price.

Mr. Cryer

Will my hon. Friend assure the House that the reformulation of National Dried Milk will be introduced as a matter of great urgency? Is it not true that the abandonment of National Dried Milk is a victory for the manufacturers of proprietary baby foods? Does he recall the Adjournment debate, some time ago, in which I pointed out that many of these manufacturers were abusing their position by foisting proprietary baby foods on mothers so that the babies became hooked? Is it not a matter of real urgency that National Dried Milk, which certainly was cheaper, should be replaced?

Mr. Meacher

My hon. Friend is right to point to the considerable price bargain that exists for mothers who purchase National Dried Milk, because a 20 oz. pack costs 20p, whereas the price of a 16 oz. pack of a modified proprietary brand may range between 60p and 85p. Therefore, there is still a substantial price advantage. We have not withdrawn National Dried Milk, precisely because there is no health risk beyond the first six months of life. Therefore, it remains a considerable price gain for mothers who use it. I cannot add to what I have already said about the reformulation of National Dried Milk. We intend to proceed on this matter.