§ 37. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the growing number of cases of ptomaine poisoning and other gastric complaints among persons of all ages throughout the country; and to what he attributes the cause.
§ Mr. BevanYes, Sir, but gastric complaints can have many causes. The increase appears to be due more to so-called gastric influenza, presumably due to infection with unknown viruses, than to food poisoning.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerMay I ask the Minister whether he would inquire to what extent this increase is due to the deterioration in meat owing to the laxity of inspection which is the result of bulk purchase?
§ Mr. BevanI must confess at once that consider that a most wicked and frightening insinuation which ought not to be 564 made by any responsible Member of Parliament without direct evidence.
§ Brigadier HeadIs the Minister aware that a great many of the stomach troubles are probably due to the worry of having a Socialist Government?
§ Mr. BevanI understand it is due to the difficulty which people have in stomaching the Opposition.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerWill the Minister promise at least to make inquiries about the suggestion I put before him before answering in the way he has answered?
§ Mr. BevanNo prima facie case has been established to show there is any lack of inspection of bulk purchase meat except the irresponsible statement of the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerMay I ask the Minister whether he would inquire how much meat from abroad has had to be refused in the last six months or in the last year?
§ Mr. ShepherdDo I understand that the Minister assures the House that the standard of inspection and of rejection of meat is today equal to what it was before the war?