§ 63. Mr. Scollanasked the Minister of Food if he has inquired into, and will make a statement on, the condition of the food dump at Aylesbeare Common, in Devonshire.
§ Sir B. SmithI have made inquiry into the dumping of foodstuffs in a disused sandpit on Aylesbeare Common in Devonshire. Instructions were given for foodstuffs condemned as unfit for human consumption and dumped there by the United States naval authorities to be burnt, but inadequate steps were taken to see that their destruction was completed. The condemned foodstuffs have since been buried.
§ Mr. ScollanIs the Minister aware that a newspaper sent a special investigator down to that particular dump, and that he reported there were hundreds of tons of perfectly edible food lying there wasting.
§ Sir B. SmithI am not aware that a Press reporter has any greater ability to test the value or quality of the food than any other person, particularly the medical officer who dealt with this. The fact is, I believe, there were a few tins of fillets of fish that might have been edible, but the bulk was unfit for human consumption.
§ Sir W. WakefieldCould not it have been used for poultry?
§ Mr. ScollanIs the Minister aware of the discontent in regard to Government control which is created by reports of this character being circulated without having a definite reply?