§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)I beg to ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, considering the strong representations that have been recently made to him by two important deputations as to the extensive adulteration frauds which are being perpetrated, he is prepared to nominate a Select Committee to inquire into the general question of food adulteration?
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. SHAW-LEFEVRE,) Bradford, CentralSome little time ago I received a deputation on the subject of the adulteration of dairy products, and after consulting with my colleagues I intimated that the Government would give its assent to the appointment of a Select Committee. Since then another deputation has urged the widening of the inquiry into the general subject of adulteration, and they pointed out that my two predecessors 1392 had agreed last year and the present year to refer the Bill of the hon. Member for Glasgow on the subject to a Select Committee after Second Reading. In view of this, I could not well do otherwise than assent to this wider Committee. It is obvious that it would not be desirable that there should be two such Committees sitting at the same time. I can only hope, therefore, that the hon. Member for Northampton and the hon. Member for Glasgow may come to an agreement as to the terms of Reference, so that one Committee may suffice.