§ Mr. Thorpeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the increasing practice of dairies in discontinuing selling in half-pint bottles, and that this is causing hardship and inconvenience, particularly to old people; and what action he proposes to take to reverse this trend.
§ Mr. HoyI am aware that some dairies are discontinuing the sale of milk in half-pint bottles because they find it an uneconomic proposition, but I must emphasise that my right hon. Friend has no power to require dairymen to sell milk at all, let alone in particular quantities or containers. I appreciate the position of old people, particularly those living on their own, but would not agree that the absence of half-pint bottles need necessarily cause hardship or inconvenience. Food and drugs authorities are responsible for enforcing a legal requirement that pasteurised milk should satisfy a keeping quality test the morning after delivery and this, I am advised, should normally ensure that the milk will keep for two days.