§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland why the sale of unpasteurised milk is not permitted in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe retail sale of unpasteurised milk has been banned in Scotland since the introduction in 1983 of compulsory pasteurisation. This was in response to widespread public concern about the safety of untreated milk following a number of serious outbreaks of milk-borne disease in Scotland (3,500 cases in 12 years including 12 deaths). There are no proposals to relax the ban, which has resulted in the virtual eradication of milk-borne disease in Scotland.