§ Mr. ORDE-POWLETTasked whether attention has been called to the recent prosecutions under the Sale of Milk Regulations, 1901, in the north-eastern counties, and particularly to the decision of the Recorder of Middlesbrough at the April quarter sessions in a milk appeal case, which came before him on the 7th instant; whether he is aware that the effect of the Recorder's decision has been to make the presumptive standard of the Sale of Milk Regulations an absolute standard, so that it is now useless for farmers in this district to defend cases in which their milk has been found to fall temporarily below the standard set up by the Sale of Milk Regulations; and whether, in view of the special liability of milk in this district, as is proved by the scientifically conducted experiments at Garforth experimental farm and the Offerton Hall dairy farm, as well as by the practical experience of dairy farmers in all parts of this district, to fall below this standard temporarily, especially at this period of the year, he will consider the advisability of immediately suspending the Sale of Milk Regulations, 1901, in the north-eastern counties pending a full inquiry into the administration of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, as they affect the dairy industry?
§ Sir E. STRACHEYMy attention has been called to the case to which the hon. Member refers, but so far as can be gathered from the newspaper reports the decision of the Recorder does not put any new interpretation upon the law. The Board are making enquiry as to the administration of the Food and Drugs Acts in relation to milk generally, but until further information is available they do not see their way to adopt the suggestion made in the last part of the question.