§ 40. Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Minister of Health if he will publish the Report of the Milk Advisory Committee on the subject of the prohibition of the use of preservatives in cream and butter?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINNone of the minutes of the proceedings of the Milk Advisory Committee have been officially published, and I do not think that the purposes for which the Committee was constituted would be best served by taking the course which my hon. and gallant Friend suggests.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND - TROYTEWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the fact that this Committee reported against the prohibition of the use of preservatives?
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Minute of the Committee was not against the action the Minister has taken?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThere was a meeting of the Advisory Committee at which only a small number of people were present, and the Committee was very much divided on the subject and eventually passed a resolution in the sense suggested by the hon. Member by a majority of one.
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEIs it not a fact that some members who voted in favour of prohibition have now changed their minds and would vote against it?
§ Captain GARRO-JONESWill the right hon. Gentleman say why it is necessary to keep secret the advice given to him by this Advisory Committee?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIt is only an Advisory Committee advising the Minister, and, if the Committee thought that all their proceedings were to be made public, I do not think it would be conducive to the proper performance of the services for which they were appointed.