§ 14. Mr. Leighasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the level of ultra heat treated and sterilized milk imports since the regulations on these products were tabled.
§ Mr. JoplingI am aware of only two consignments, both of UHT milk. A consignment which arrived at Portsmouth in September has been re-exported.
§ Mr. LeighI congratulate my right hon. Friend on drafting those regulations in such a tough way that our dairy industry has obviously been protected until now. As we have obeyed the letter of Community law, does he agree that in spite of all the huff and puff of Opposition Members, it was they who sold the pass in 1977 by allowing in pasteurised frozen cream?
§ Mr. JoplingI hate to argue in view of my hon. Friend's warm words, but the fact is that the regulations were drafted to protect not the dairy industry but public health. My hon. Friend is right in saying that in the 1970s the Labour Government first allowed pasteurised cream to come into this country.