63. Dr. VERNON DAVIESasked the Minister of Health if he will draw the attention of all authorities to the fact that it is impossible to form an accurate opinion of the administration of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act unless all samples analysed, whether official or unofficial, are included in the annual Report, and that the omission of the number of unofficial samples analysed does not actually reflect the amount of adulteration, especially of milk, in their district?
§ Sir K. WOODInformal testing is designed to obtain information for administrative purposes, and my right hon. Friend is not satisfied that the publication of statistics combining the results of formal and informal tests would serve the purpose which my hon. Friend has in view. My right hon. Friend will, however, consider his suggestion.
Dr. DAVIESWill the right hon. Gentleman also bear in mind that the Sale of Food and Drugs Act was intended to deal with adulteration, and that if unofficial samples are allowed to be taken and not reported, no accurate opinion can be formed as to the amount of adulteration of the food of the people.