§ Mr. LAMBasked the Minister of Health the reasons which led his Department to modify and postpone the operation of the Public Health (Dried Milk) Regulations; what is the nature of the objections to those Regulations that are regarded by his Department as confidential; and why the representative organisation of dairy farmers in 1767W England and Wales was not permitted to learn the nature of the objections taken to the original draft Regulations?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYThe Public Health (Dried Milk) Regulations were published in draft. form in July last with a view to eliciting any representations which might be made by parties concerned for consideration in my Department. A number of representations dealing with points of detail were made on behalf of manufacturers and traders, and my predecessor was satisfied that it was possible to meet some of them without prejudicing the interests of the consuming public, and that it would be impracticable to bring the Regulations into operation at the date originally suggested. I am not aware whether the representations made were intended to be regarded as confidential, but it was not considered that there was any ground for communicating representations submitted for the consideration of the Department to other bodies.
§ Mr. LAMBasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Customs authorities have no power to hold up consignments of imported condensed milk the labelling of which does not conform to the Public Health (Condensed Milk) Regulations; and whether, since such improperly labelled milk may reach the consumer before the local authority concerned is in a position to take action, he will say what steps he proposes to take in the matter to safeguard the public health?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The ultimate procedure for the enforcement of the Regulations is by prosecution involving the liability to a substantial fine, and I see no reason to suppose that the arrangements adopted for enforcement will prove to be inadequate to secure the object. in view.
§ Captain RAMAGEasked the Minister of Health if his attention has been drawn to the facts disclosed as to the prevalence of tuberculosis in bovines as a result of the slaughtering of cattle in connection with the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; and what steps he proposes to take to reduce the risk of the dissemination of tubercle-infected milk for human consumption?
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§ Mr. WHEATLEYI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on the 18th instant to the hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne East (Sir R. Aske).
§ Mr. BECKERasked the Minister of Health the number of children under the age of seven years who died of infantile paralysis during the last 12 months; has his Department any evidence showing that the high mortality amongst young children is due to the drinking of impure milk; and what steps does he propose to take to ensure a pure milk supply?
§ Mr. WHEATLEYI can best answer the first part of the question by giving the following provisional figures for deaths during 1923 of children under seven years of age registered as due to polio-myelitis and polio-encephalitis:
Polio-myelitis 46 Polio-encephalitis 20 The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative, and as regards the third part, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on Thursday last.