§ Mr. Knoxasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the new measures for untreated milk.
§ Mr. Pete WalkerA milk pasteurisation equipment grant scheme is being introduced today to assist those producer-retailers who wish to pasteurise their milk with the cost of installing the appropriate plant. Grant will be paid at the rate of 22V2 per cent, of eligible expenditure, or on standard costs for certain items.
The scheme rests on the authority of the estimates and the Appropriation Act; the necessary enabling legislation will be introduced as soon as possible. Leaflets will shortly be available in the Ministry's divisional offices in England and the Welsh Office Agricultural Department.
From 1 January 1982 all retail containers of untreated milk will have to be clearly labelled "Raw Unpasteurised Milk"; for bottles this means the words will have to be enamelled in coloured lettering on the side or shoulder of the bottle; the distinctive green cap embossed with the words "Untreated milk", and with the address of the premises on which the milk was bottled, will be retained.
The 1p per pint premium which can at present be charged on farm bottled milk in England and Wales will be removed from 27 December 1981.