HL Deb 25 June 1957 vol 204 cc290-1
EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

[To ask Her Majesty's Government how much dried milk was issued during the year ending 1st April, 1957, to Her Majesty's Forces serving in the United Kingdom; what gallonage of liquid milk did this replace, and whether it is proposed that the dried milk allocation for the current year be increased or decreased.]

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, no dried milk was issued during the year ending 1st April, 1957, to Her Majesty's Forces serving in the United Kingdom. In May of this year 22,350 lb. of dried milk was issued, to use up stocks bought in connection with the Suez emergency. This took the place of tinned milk, and fresh milk was issued as usual. It is not expected that any more dried milk will be provided during the current financial year.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I thank I he noble Lord for his reply. It is, indeed, a source of great consolation to know that no more dried milk will be issued to Her Majesty's Forces serving in the United Kingdom. I am sure that many people have felt that it was slightly ironical to have dried milk issued when there was a surplus of fresh milk.

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, the circumstances in this case were exceptional.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, I should like to know whether it is not possible to arrange now, with such plentiful supplies, for all the milk supplied to the Home Forces to be fresh milk, because there is, as the noble Earl, Lord Ferrers, says, exceeding difficulty in the milk trade at the present time. Many of the factories have been pouring milk away, and I feel sure the Government Chief Whip will know that that has happened in Devonshire, particularly. It seems a great pity to be pouring away skimmed milk, and that kind of thing, and to supply tinned milk to the troops when there is such a surplus of milk. Why not supply them only with fresh milk?

LORD MANCROFT

My Lords, a large quantity of fresh milk is included in the diet of all ranks of all three Services at home and abroad. There are exceptional circumstances, as I have indicated; and there is also the fact, curiously enough, that not everybody likes fresh milk.

LORD DERWENT

My Lords, in view of those questions and answers, may I ask my noble friend whether he will make certain that the mistake made a few years ago, when fresh liquid milk was issued to the crews of armoured vehicles on manœuvres, and it all went bad, will not be repeated?