§ MR. H. H. MARKS (Kent, Thanet)I beg to ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether any action has been taken, or is contemplated, with reference to the recommendation of the Departmental Committee on the fruit industry that an inquiry should be instituted into the alleged practice of growing fruit on sewage farms, and the effect of such a practice on the public health.
§ SIR EDWARD STRACHEY (Somersetshire, S.)We have been in communication with the Local Government Board on this subject, and we are informed that no instance of disease attributed to fruit grown on sewage farms is known in the Medical Department of the Board. The information in the possession of the Board indicates that fruit is very seldom grown on sewage farms in this country, and there is no confirmation of the suggestion-that injury to health is caused by fruit so grown.