Milk (Hansard, 16 February 1989)

§ 68. Mr. Martlew
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of liquid milk consumed in 1987 in England and Wales was not heat treated.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
It is difficult to establish a precise figure, but in the light of information published by the Federation of United Kingdom Milk Marketing boards in the 1988 edition of "Dairy Facts and Figures" I estimate that 2 to 3 per cent. of milk sold for liquid consumption in England and Wales in 1987–88 was not heat treated.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list(a) the number of milk bottling plants which currently produce green top milk, (b) what proportion of milk production this represents, and (c) what proportion of unpasteurised milk it represents.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
Green top milk must be bottled on the farm. It follows that there are no milk bottling plants handling green top milk.
364W

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will give the total level of milk production in 1988; and if he will give proportions accounted for by(a) green top bottled milk, (b) other bottled milk, (c) pasteurised milk for other than liquid consumption, and (d) unpasteurised milk for other than liquid consumption;
(2) if he will estimate the level of United Kingdom consumption of unpasteurised milk.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I have given today to the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew). Further information is set out in the 1988 edition of "United Kingdom Dairy Facts and Figures". There is a copy in the Library of the House.

§ Mr. Ron Davies
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many inspections have been held of on-farm dairies producing for direct sale green top milk which have revealed listeria contamination during each of the last three years;
(2) what steps he has taken during the last two years to improve the hygiene of on-farm dairies;
(3) what steps he has taken during the last two years to improve the quality of unpasteurised milk sold direct to the public.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
The production and processing of all milk is subject to strict controls under the Milk and Dairies Regulations. Producers who hold a licence to sell unpasteurised milk for liquid consumption under the special designation "untreated" are visited regularly by dairy husbandry advisers who check that the physical condition of the premises and the methods of production are in compliance with the regulations. In addition, samples of milk are taken for testing, but the milk is not tested for specific pathogens.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the sale by county of(a) pasteurised and (b) unpasteurised milk in the latest available year.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
The information requested is not readily available.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he proposes to hold with consumer organisations before banning the sale of unpasteurised milk; and what representations he has received from them asking for such a ban.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
The consultation exercise that my right hon. Friend announced on 3 February will range widely and will include consumer organisations. I have already received various representations arguing that a ban would be in the best interests of consumers.

§ Mr. Austin Mitchell
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish the scientific and medical advice on the basis on which he proposes to ban the sale of unpasteurised milk.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
I have been mainly influenced by information on outbreaks of food poisoning associated with consumption of untreated milk. Figures for the years 1982–88 were provided by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health in response to a question from the hon. Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew).