asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will consider the advisability of making arrangements enabling parents or guardians to surrender the shell-egg registrations of children normally resident in boarding-schools in order that they may obtain rations of poultry feeding-stuffs?

No, Sir. Boarding-schools obtain an allowance of shell eggs for boarders. My hon. Friend's suggestion would, therefore, be equivalent to a duplication of supplies.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the present arrangements mean very little in the way of eggs to children in schools, and that they would get far more if the suggestion I have made was adopted?

Boarding-schools can, if they wish to, surrender their shell-egg registrations and obtain instead feeding stuffs for keeping hens at schools, subject to a maximum of 50.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that a great deal of bread is wasted each day in the Royal Parks by members of the public for the alleged purpose of feeding wild-fowl and pigeons; despite the fact that these birds obtain plenty of natural food; and whether he will take steps to deal with the matter?

Birds in the Royal Parks are, I am aware, fed with crusts and crumbs of bread. Recent observations show that the quantity is small, and I am informed that the park superintendents stop the feeding of bread obviously fit for human consumption. My Noble Friend does not think other special steps would be justified.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that food vendors are complaining of the dirty condition of many ration books, which is a danger to the health of the people being served; and will he institute a penalty for such neglect?

The answer to both parts of my hon. Friend's Question is, "No, Sir."

Does the Minister realise that this is an important question? I have had representations made to me by people who have to handle these very dirty books in grocers' shops. Is he aware that very great harm is being done? Will he do something about it?

We have had no representations on this subject, but I shall be glad to receive any information in the hon. Member's possession. The customer can, of course, change the ration book.

Are there not already enough penalties for infringements of food regulations?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food how many persons are employed in carrying out the Government egg scheme; how many of these are of military age; and what does he estimate will be the cost of the scheme to the Exchequer during the present and coming financial years, respectively?

It will take some time to obtain this information. I am, however, having particulars extracted so far as they are available and will write to my hon. and gallant Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the number of imported and home-produced eggs in shell, respectively, which have passed through the Government collecting stations during the last year and the percentage of loss through breakage, etc.; and, in the case of home-produced eggs, the average time intervening between the date of leaving the farm and of purchase by the consumer?

It is not in the public interest to disclose figures of imports and home production during the war period. The loss through breakage, etc., is negligible. It is impossible to give an average time intervening between the date when eggs leave the farm and when they are purchased by the consumer. Under the most favourable conditions it is as little as two or three days, and generally, I am advised, it is less than pre-war.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the average number of eggs to which each inhabitant of the United Kingdom was entitled during the last year as the result of the Government egg scheme?

The number of shell eggs to which each inhabitant of the United Kingdom was entitled during 1942 was for each priority consumer about 116, and for each non-priority consumer about 29.

From all these figures which my hon. Friend has given is it not clear that the Government scheme for eggs is not only a terrific charge on the Exchequer, but it simply does not produce the release of the eggs to which a person is entitled?

I do not think so.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is taking any steps to advertise the pasteurisation of milk?

No, Sir.

Why not?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, in view of the increase in the death rate in London of 67 per cent., alleged to be due to non-pulmonary tuberculosis in 1941, as compared to 1938, whether he will refuse to make pasteurisation compulsory in London, as this death rate is higher than the average rate in the country, where the proportion of raw milk drunk is higher?

My hon. Friend's Question appears to rest on the assumption that non-pulmonary tuberculosis is due wholly or mainly to tuberculous infection of the bovine type and that its incidence is therefore an index of the amount of bovine infection. There is no evidence for this assumption. It was estimated before the war that only 30 per cent. of the cases of non-pulmonary tuberculosis at all ages were due to bovine infection, and it is to be expected that since the outbreak of war the incidence of non-pulmonary tuberculosis should have increased more in towns where the risks of human infection are greater, and are accentuated by war conditions, than in the country. The statements referred to by my hon. Friend do not bear directly on the question of pasteurisation.

If in London, where 90 per cent. of the people are using pasteurised milk, far more than in the rest of the country, tuberculosis has increased far more rapidly, does it not show that pasteurisation is not only useless, but does damage?

My hon. Friend will recognise that the relevant figures are the figures of bovine tuberculosis.

As so much dried milk is being used, will the Parliamentary Secretary consider the advisability of seeing that no coupons are surrendered?

No coupons are needed for dried milk.

Yes, they are.

No, they are not.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps his Department separately, or in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health, has taken to ensure a clean, fresh and sound milk supply for domestic consumption?

My Noble Friend, in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Minister of Health, the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, is giving detailed consideration to the steps which could be taken at the present time to provide the public with the maximum quantity of safe milk. He is also consulting representatives of producing and distributing interests. I am not, however, in a position at present to make any statement on the subject, but I hope it may be possible to make an announcement of the Government's intentions at an early date.

Would the Minister consider the possibility of issuing a White Paper on this subject?

Let us have the announcement first.