§ 43. Mr. Sandysasked the Minister of Health whether His Majesty's Government accept Mr. Seebohm Rowntree's recently published estimate of the minimum income required to provide the essentials of life to which his attention has been drawn; and, if not, whether his Department has made any such estimate of its own?
§ Mr. BernaysNo, Sir. My right hon. Friend is advised that this estimate involves certain features that are very conjectural, and no sufficient official material for the preparation of an estimate of this kind is at present available.
§ Mr. SandysIs the Ministry of Health seeking to obtain such information?
§ Mr. BernaysAs my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, the Government's Advisory Committee on Nutrition is examining the whole problem.
§ Mr. G. GriffithsIs the Minister aware that practically every statement in this book is based on first-hand information?
§ Mr. BernaysOf course, Mr. Rowntree is a very great authority, but it is only the opinion of one man, and is purely conjectural.