§ Mr. Kershawasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now considered the Report of the Cook Committee on the Compositional Quality of Milk in the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesThe main point to which the Report of the Cook Committee drew attention was the decline in the solids-not-fat (S.N.F.) content of milk in England and Wales over the past 30 years or so. Although the decline has been small, the Government agree that it is desirable to maintain, and if possible to improve, the compositional quality of such an important article of food. I am glad to say that the Milk Marketing Boards and the distributive trade have endorsed this view.
The Government accept the Committee's recommendation that compositional quality can best be maintained and improved by paying the milk producer according to the compositional quality of his milk. Discussions are at present proceeding on the detailed operation of differential payment schemes to take account of the need to maintain s.n.f. levels.
The Committee also recommended that, in due course, consideration should be given to' introducing minimum legal standards for fat and s.n.f. in lieu of the present presumptive standards. This may be desirable at a later stage but we think it best to await an improvement in compositional quality resulting from the operation of the new differential payment schemes.
The Government agree with the recommendation that the use of the Hortvet test should be accepted in legal proceedings as proof of the presence or absence of added water in milk. A number of technical points have to be worked out, but when these are resolved the necessary legislation will be proceeded with at the first suitable opportunity.
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I are considering 191W whether some body, such as the Cook Committee recommended, should be appointed to keep Ministers informed of developments affecting milk composition and to advise them when action appears desirable. I am informed that in Northern Ireland existing arrangements for this purpose are considered adequate.