Untreated Milk (Hansard, 25 May 1989)

§ 25. Mr. Waller
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received following the issue of his consultation paper on untreated milk.

§ 32. Mr. Key
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had about the sale of green top milk; and if he will make a statement.

§ 41. Mr. Steinberg
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations his Department has received calling for(a) the retention and (b) the banning of green top milk.

§ 57. Dr. Marek
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to announce the result of his consultations on green top milk.

§ 60. Mr. Murphy
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce his decision with regard to green top milk.

§ 73. Mr. Temple-Morris
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the consultations he has been having on the question of banning untreated milk in England and Wales; and when he expects to be able to announce his conclusions.

§ Mr. Cran
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received regarding the banning of green top milk; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
We have received a large number of representations. The majority are from consumers who wish to remain free to choose untreated736W milk and from producers who wish to continue supplying it. On the other hand, a number of bodies concerned about public health, including various enforcement authorities, have supported the proposal to ban sales. The period allowed for comment has now expired and we are considering, in the light of all comments received, what our policy should be. My right hon. Friend hopes to make a further announcement shortly.

§ Mr. Temple-Morris
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information has become available in the course of his consultation into the question of banning the sale of untreated milk in England and Wales on(a) how many people can indisputably be said to have become ill from the consumption of such milk and (b) how many illnesses could be deemed serious.

§ Mr. Donald Thompson
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health provided data on confirmed reports of food poisoning associated with consumption of raw milk in England and Wales in response to a written question from my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Martlew) on 9 February at column 808. No new information has become available during the consultation exercise, nor is it possible to distinguish between serious and trivial cases. However, the very fact that a case is reported means that an individual has been sufficiently ill to consult his doctor.