HC Deb 25 April 1928 vol 216 cc898-9
19. Mr. WESTWOOD

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the Public Health (Preservatives in Food) Regulations, in so far as the prohibition of the use of sulphur in the milling of barley is concerned, is having a serious effect upon the home-barley milling trade; that permission has been granted to the cornflour millers to use sulphur; and that the granting of permission to use a smaller percentage of sulphur in the milling of barley than is now used in the milling of cornflour will avoid further unemployment in the barley milling trade; and is he prepared to favourably consider granting to barley millers a similar concession to that granted to cornflour millers under the foregoing regulations?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of HEALTH (Sir Kingsley Wood)

My right hon. Friend has received representations that the prohibition of the treatment of barley with sulphur dioxide is prejudicial to British barley millers and lie has also received representations that the prohibition is in the interests of British barley growers. The prohibition applies equally to home-milled and imported barley and my right hon. Friend does not see why any efficient miller should be adversely affected. There is no true analogy between barley and cornflour, since in the former case sulphur dioxide is merely used as a bleacher and in the latter it is an essential part of the process of extracting the starch from the grain. My right hon. Friend does not consider that the addition of this undesirable substance to food can be justified on the ground that it has a bleaching effect, and he regrets, therefore, that he cannot reconsider the decision not to allow its use in barley.

Mr. WESTWOOD

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that sulphur dioxide has not only a bleaching effect in connection with barley, but a preservative effect also, and that during the recent wet season, the fact that we had not to use it means that the barley could not really be milled efficiently in the interests of the people?

Sir K. WOOD

Every consideration was given to all these aspects of the matter. I regret that I cannot hold out any hope of the decision being reconsidered.

Mr. ERNEST BROWN

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any deputations on this matter?

Sir K. WOOD

I hesitate to speak without notice, but I rather think we have had a good many deputations on this matter.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is no nutriment in cornflour at all?

Sir K. WOOD

I will leave that to the hon. Gentleman.

Mr. KIRKWOOD

Will the right hon. Gentleman make inquiries, and, if my statement is true, will he let my countrymen and women know that it is true, that there is no nutriment, no food value, in cornflour?

Mr. MACQUISTEN

Has my right hon. Friend not discovered that the use of sulphur is actually beneficial and that sulphur is very often given to children in springtime for a medicine; and how does he justify the refusal of this beneficial treatment of barley when he allows a much more pernicious practice like dyeing kippers to go on?

Sir K. WOOD

My answer had reference to sulphur dioxide. I do not know whether my hon. and learned Friend takes that in any form.

Mr. WESTWOOD

Will the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to meet a deputation representing both Scottish and English millers for the purpose of discussing this matter?

Sir K. WOOD

I will naturally consider any request made in that connection by any hon. Member of this House, but I should not like to hold out any hope of any alteration being made