§ 2.40 p.m.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what investigations have been made to ascertain the frequency and extent to which milk sold for human consumption contains residues of penicillin and other antibiotics; and what steps have been taken to prevent milk so affected from being sold for that purpose.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL WALDEGRAVE)My Lords, surveys have recently been made in England and Wales and in Scotland, in which samples of milk from farms have been tested for the presence of penicillin and other antibiotics. The results are being analysed and their significance assessed. The Milk Marketing Board for England and Wales and the main Scottish Board require producers, by the terms of their contracts, not to offer for sale milk from cows which have been treated with antibiotics within a specified period. The other two Scottish Boards advise producers in the same sense. The object of these precautions is to ensure that the antibiotic is excreted before the milk is offered for sale.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, will the noble Earl say what the result of the examination was, and whether or not any samples were found infected?
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, as I said, the result of the survey is in process of being analysed now, and it will be submitted to expert opinions. We are not in a position to say more at the moment, until we have examined the statistical data.
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that in a recent broadcast it was stated that 221 5 per cent. of samples of milk contained penicillin or other antibiotics?
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords. I was not personally aware of the broadcast, but I had seen articles in some papers which allege that there is a substantial proportion of penicillin in milk. This is why the survey was undertaken, and this is why this survey will be carefully analysed. We shall have to consider what we shall do when that has been done.
§ VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, would the noble Earl not agree that it may be that the use of such antibiotics prevents contamination from other and worse things?
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHMy Lords, may I ask when the result of this investigation will be available?
EARL WALDEGRAVEMy Lords, I am afraid I cannot: say when the result will be available, but the matter is being proceeded with at full speed. Did the noble Lord ask "whether" the result would be available? I thought the noble Lord said "when".
§ LORD DOUGLAS OF BARLOCHI meant both.