§ LORD SOUTHWOODMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government this question of which I have given private notice—whether they are in a position, to make a statement as to what action they propose to take to improve the quality of the nation's milk supply.
§ THE MINISTER OF FOOD (LORD WOOLTON)My Lords, the Government propose to take the following measures to improve the quality of the milk supply. A White Paper explaining the proposals in more detail will be issued this evening, and I hope that it will be in the Printed Paper Office within an hour. The basis of a sound milk policy must be a wellbred, healthy, dairy herd. At present a large number of herds in the country are not inspected at all. It is proposed in future to arrange for a minimum of one inspection a year for every dairy herd, and to inspect more frequently within the limits of the available veterinary personnel those herds with a bad disease history or where the milk is not heat-treated before sale. To ensure the production of a cleaner milk the National Milk-Testing and Advisory Scheme was introduced last year. All those concerned are co-operating to make the scheme a success and already over 70 per cent. of the milk producers are having their milk regularly tested while nearly 90 per cent. of the larger creameries are operating the scheme.
With a view to greater efficiency and uniformity in methods of milk production, the Government will submit to Parliament, after consultation with local authorities in England and Wales as to the arrangements to be made, legislation providing for the transfer to the. Ministry of Agriculture of the functions now exercised by local authorities in regard to the production of milk, including designated milk on the farm. In this way the Ministry of Agriculture will become responsible for all matters relating to the 366 the production of milk. Much of the tuberculin tested milk now produced is not sold to the public as such, but is bulked with and sold as ordinary milk. In order to encourage the production of this valuable milk, the Government propose to pay a uniform production premium of 4d. per gallon. Distributors will cease to pay premiums to producers for T.T. milk. The Ministry of Food will take all practicable steps to ensure that as much T.T. milk as is possible in present circumstances will be sold as such to consumers. The price will be only slightly higher than that for ordinary milk. The schemes introduced by my Department for the rationalization of retail distribution of milk have deprived the public in areas to which such schemes apply, of their freedom to choose their milk suppliers. In some cases, therefore, persons who previously bought pasteurised or T.T. milk may now be receiving ordinary raw untreated milk. This places upon the Government the obligation to ensure, as soon as possible, that all milk supplied to consumers in areas affected by rationalization schemes should conform to the higher standards of purity previously demanded by consumers.
The methods by which this will be achieved are set out in detail in the White Paper. Briefly the Government's intention is to prohibit, in areas to be scheduled by my Department, the retail sale of milk unless it is either T.T. milk, accredited milk sold by a retailer who sells the milk of a single accredited herd, or milk which has been rendered safe by means of heat treatment. This policy will be applied, in all areas affected by schemes for the rationalization of retail distribution of milk, as rapidly as the necessary plant can be made available. Certain adjustments in the application of this policy to Northern Ireland will be required. The Government's proposals for heat treatment and for increasing the incentives for the production of quality milk are applicable to Scotland as well as to England and Wales. The Scottish local authorities will however continue to exercise their present functions.