§ Lord Young of Dartingtonasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of the damage that will be done to the Camphill Devon Community for handicapped adults, by the proposed amendment to the Milk (Special Designation) Regulations 1977, which will require the community to pasteurise the milk produced and consumed there.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Belstead)Proposals for amendments to the regulations on untreated milk to implement restrictions on sales to certain outlets were 477WA issued to interested parties for comment last February. A number of organisations (including certain Camphill Communities) and individuals submitted comments on the proposals: these ranged from those who felt that the restrictions go too far, to those who urged us to introduce a complete ban on sales.
We were, of course, conscious of the need to strike a reasonable balance between these conflicting views and decided to go ahead on the basis of the proposals. In reacing this decision, we had in mind particularly that the health risks associated with untreated milk outweigh the marginal nutritional benefits which might be derived from it.
Regulations were therefore laid before Parliament on 9th April. These will rule out the supply of untreated milk, from whatever source, to schools and other institutions from 1st November 1985. We had to hear in mind that institutions seem particularly susceptible to major outbreaks of food poisoning and so it would not be appropriate to make exceptions for particular institutions.