§ Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Minister of Health whether he has considered the latest report of the Caerphilly medical officer of health, in which it is stated that the supply of heat-treated, not pasteurised, Carmarthen milk to schools will lead to a grave increase in bovine tuberculosis in the next few years; and what steps 1346W he is taking to provide that local authority with power to deal with this menace?
§ Mr. E. BrownI have obtained a copy of this report, which was not sent to my Department. As my hon. Friend is aware, pasteurisation is a form of heat treatment of milk. I do not know on what evidence it is said that the heat treatment of the milk in question has been insufficient to destroy tubercle bacilli and I will make further inquiry. I am in consultation with my Noble Friend the Minister of Food on the general question of providing the practicable maximum supply of adequately heat treated milk. In the meantime the milk referred to can be made safe by boiling it.