HL Deb 29 January 1970 vol 307 cc460-2
BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

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 why farmers' veterinary advisers can treat mass abortion in a herd without having to notify the local authority's health department or the Milk Marketing Board.]

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, such a requirement would mean compelling private veterinary practitioners to disclose confidential information. Medical officers of health already have wide powers, in cases where they suspect that milk is infected, to prohibit its sale for human consumption or to require it to be heat-treated, and there is no reason to suppose that they are slow to use these powers.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that all doctors reveal the complaint from which a patient is suffering when notifying a disease to the medical officer of health, but successive Governments have refused to allow brucellosis to be notifiable? Is my noble friend aware that this is the only means whereby a reactor can be traced? Is he further aware that during the debate on brucellosis last week every speaker, from all parts of the House, recognised that what is wrong at the moment is that people are allowed to sell these infected cows secretly on the market?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, the notification of brucellosis raises quite a different and wider issue, and I should not wish to attempt to add anything to the conclusive reply which my noble friend Lord Hilton of Upton gave at the end of the debate to which my noble friend refers. On the narrower point as to whether a veterinary surgeon should notify the medical officer of health locally that there has been this abortion fever and that he suspects that there is a brucellosis infection, I think that my noble friend has a point here. I will bring it to the notice of my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Services and ask whether it can be considered. Of course, it would mean that the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons would have to agree to this change in their code of conduct, but I have no doubt that this could be arranged.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, I thank my noble friend. May I ask him whether he is aware that veterinary surgeons and Medical Officers of Health throughout the country, of, may I say, the finest kind and of high moral sense, have asked for this to be done, and that I put this Question down because of the number of letters I have had as a result of the debate last week?

LORD BESWICK

Yes, my Lords; and I will see that any information which my noble friend gives me is taken into account.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, I thank my noble friend.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, would my noble friend have a particular look at the position of producer retailers? — because although a medical officer of health can prohibit the sale of infected milk, it is difficult to see how he can do so if he has not had notification of mass abortion in a herd. In many localities producer retailers supply a large proportion of consumers.

LORD BESWICK

Yes, my Lords. I think the steps that are already taken do ensure that no untreated infected milk is on sale; but I do not think that this is the point which my noble friend Lady Summerskill raised. I think that her point has some substance; and, as I say, I will follow it up.

LORD BALERNO

My Lords, could the noble Lord confirm that there is no need for further legislation to enable notification to be made compulsory?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, notification is not now compulsory.

BARONESS SUMMERSKILL

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that, as I heard from the medical officer of health yesterday, in Flintshire there are 174 herds which provide untreated milk for the people?

LORD BESWICK

My Lords, that is news to me, I must say. If my noble friend will give me the particulars I will look into the matter.