§ MR. STUART SAMUEL (Tower Hamlets, Whitechapel)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he is taking any steps by Order in Council under the Public Health (Regulation of Foods) Act, 1907, for the regulation of the proportion of boracic acid that may be employed in articles of food; and, if so, can he give some definite statement on the subject at an early date in order to allay confusion in the public mind and to assist the local authorities in deciding what line of action they should take in the matter.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I am giving attention to this matter and have directed inquiries to be made with regard to the present position of preservatives in certain foodstuffs. The matter is one which requires careful investigation, and I am not at present 228 in a position to make any definite statement with respect to it.