HL Deb 24 May 1962 vol 240 cc1063-5

3.4 p.m.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

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

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the total production of "imitation" or "filled" milk in this country per annum, and what was the total amount of this commodity (a) imported and (b) exported in the year 1961.]

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (EARL WALDEGRAVE)

My Lords, there are no official statistics of production and trade in skimmed milk with non-milk fat, but the indications are that sales are small. May I say that I very much regret that the noble Viscount has again used the term "filled milk", because this term is misleading and contravenes the F.A.O. Code of Principles concerning Milk and Milk Products. Skimmed milk with non-milk fat cannot be sold or advertised in this country as "filled milk".

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, on the last point, of course, I am quoting from the report of the conference in Europe to which I drew the noble Earl's attention on the last occasion. I should have thought there were records somewhere in the possession of the Government, whether or not they are in the printed report, showing the figures of production and the figures of export and import. Anyway, I sent the noble Earl a full extract of the discussion at the conference, and the resolution which was passed at the end. I should like to know what action the British Government propose to take about it.

EARL WALDEGRAVE

My Lords, the fact is that there are no specific figures for this particular product. There are a number of minor products for which we have not specific returns. For instance, we do not have the full figures for peanut butter. But the report of the Conference which the noble Viscount was good enough to show me agreed that the F.A.O. Code of Principles ought to be adopted and kept by other countries. We do adopt it, and we try to prevent the public from being misled. Imitation milk may not be described for sale as real milk or ordinary milk.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, does it not occur to the noble Earl that we have no check at present whether any of the milk, say, served in restaurants and cafés is always whole milk, or whether it is a concoction of this kind? Also, considering the final unanimity at the European conference on this matter, would it not be well that this country and Eire, the only two countries who have not passed a ban on this product, should do the same as the others?

EARL WALDEGRAVE

My Lords, I remember that when the noble Viscount raised this question some months ago—perhaps it was last year—he took me up when I asked whether he was really asking for a ban. He replied [OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 229, col. 66]: I did not ask you to ban anything. The noble Viscount has changed his ground. He now wishes this product to be banned. It would be very difficult to ban a product which is wholesome, so long as the public are not misled. Out objective is to see that if the public ask for milk, they get milk, and not some substitute or imitation. That is what the regulations are designed to ensure. I forget the second part of the noble Viscount's question.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

As we and Eire are the only two countries represented at the European conference who have not used the ban, would it not be as well to be unanimous with the others in doing the same thing? Obviously, there has been very great pressure for this. I do not intend to raise the question of a possible Common Market, but if you go into the Common Market you would almost certainly have to adopt it, would you not?

EARL WALDEGRAVE

My Lords, I should doubt that very much. That is a hypothetical question. I now remember the other question which the noble Viscount asked: how can one be sure whether or not one is getting this product in a restaurant? The point is that if you ask for milk and you are sold something else, an offence is committed. Also, I think it should be borne in mind that the dairy industry of this country, if there were actual evidence that this product was being widely used in substitution for the real article, would have made representations to us. We have had no such representations.

VISCOUNT ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

For the moment I will leave it at that. I may come back to it.

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