HC Deb 14 July 1944 vol 401 cc2011-3W
Sir R. Glyn

asked the Minister of Health how many prosecutions for selling

June, 1944, was applied to tax payments under the following separate headings: Income Tax, Surtax, National Defence Contribution, Excess Profits Tax, Land Tax, War Damage Contribution and any other form of taxation for which certificates are accepted by the Treasury.

Sir J. Anderson

The amount of total redemptions of Tax Reserve Certificates for each of the 10 quarterly periods to 30th June, 1944, applied to tax payments was as follows:

dirty milk or keeping milk by retailers under unwholesome conditions have been instituted during the last twelve months; and by whom.

Mr. Willink

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

Sir R. Glyn

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that under existing Statutes and Regulations milk, after it has left the producers and the creamery or milk centre, is kept clean and under proper conditions by wholesalers and retailers; and, if not, what steps does he propose to take that will ensure clean milk to the consumer after the new proposals affecting the licensing of dairy herd keepers become effective.

Mr. Willink

The enforcement of the relevant statutory provisions in relation to wholesale and retail premises, other than dairy farms, will under the proposals at present before Parliament remain (as now) the responsibility of local authorities. I have no reason to doubt that these provisions are adequate to ensure satisfactory conditions in the sale and distribution of milk from such premises.

Sir R. Glyn

asked the Minister of Health whether any Regulations are in force to ensure that milk in process of delivery is so kept as not to become affected by sun heat and thus tend to sour; whether milk-bottles and churns have to be protected against rain and dirt containing the cardboard caps, etc.; and whether milk is inspected in retail shops; and why such retailers are not licensed and subject to conditions ensuring cleanliness.

Mr. Willink

With regard to the first two parts of the Question, there are specific provisions in the Milk and Dairies Order, 1926, requiring every person engaged in the conveyance or distribution of milk to use all practicable precautions for preventing the milk from being unnecessarily exposed to heat and from being contaminated by dirt, dust, rainwater or otherwise. The Order also requires that churns shall be so made as to prevent access to the milk of dirt, dust or rainwater. As regards the third part of the Question, it is the duty of the local authorities to enforce the Order and to make such inspections as they think necessary for that purpose. As regards the last part of the Question, the Order requires all dairies, and dairymen, to be registered by the local authority, and Section 22 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, provides that a local authority, subject to an appeal to a court of law, may refuse or cancel the registration of a person who applies to be or is registered as a retail purveyor of milk if, in their opinion, the public health is, or is likely to be, endangered by any act or default of that person.