§ SIR CUTHBERT QUILTER (Suffolk, Sudbury)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether, in pursuance of their powers, the Board propose to take action on the lines recommended by the Royal Commission on Arsenical Poisoning in Part VIIIA. of their Report, by the appointment of a special expert officer, or otherwise, for securing better control over the purity of chemically prepared, preserved, or other foods liable to contain deleterious substances; and whether progress has been made in giving effect to the further recommendation of the Royal Commission, that the principle of officially prescribed food standards already enforced in the case of certain articles of diet should be applied to other foods and beverages.
(Answered by Mr. Walter Long.) I have not at present decided to appoint a special expert officer of the kind referred to. The consideration of the recommendations of the Royal Commission is being proceeded with, and in connection with it the proposal with regard to the appointment of such an officer will receive attention. Effect, however, could not be given to the recommendations as to food standards without legislation.