§ Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in the opinion of the medical advisers of the Board, after considering Dr. Hamill's report on the constitution of baking powders and self-raising flour, the prevalence of appendicitis and other intestinal disorders in this country is attributable, either wholly or in part, to the presence of calcium sulphate or plaster of paris in such preparations?
§ The PRESIDENT of the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Burns)Present knowledge does not, as I am advised, enable a statement to be made as to whether food containing insoluble mineral matters, such as calcium sulphate, may be responsible for the production of appendicitis or of other intestinal disorders.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many eminent doctors in London hold the view that appendicitis is due to that cause?
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the President of the Local Government Board whether, in view of the report of the Board's inspectors on the sophistication, decolouration, and so-called improvement of flour, he will consider the advisability of prohibiting, either by legislative enactment or by administrative order the sale of any article as bread, without any qualifying prefix, which is made out of any substance or substances other than wheat flour, or which has been deprived of any of the contents of the wheat grain other than bran or fibre?
§ Mr. BURNSThe question of taking action in the direction suggested, and other questions arising out of the Reports, are at present receiving my consideration.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that under the existing law anything can be sold as bread, whatever its constituents, whatever may have been withdrawn from the flour or added to it?
§ Mr. BURNSThat is an interpretation given to the existing law by some people, but I do not share that view.