§ 3. Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Food when he expects that the agene process will be abandoned, and that all flour will be treated by some other form of improver.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 31st March to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, Central (Dr. Stross).
§ Dr. BroughtonIs the Minister aware that it was stated in this House on 19th June, 1950, that it would take about two years and would cost approximately 337,000 dollars to import from the U.S.A. the necessary machinery and chlorine dioxide to complete the change-over to an alternative and a safer process for treating flour? As the period of two years expires this week, may we have an assurance from the Minister that he is pursuing vigorously that desirable policy which was initiated under a Labour Government?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeIf the hon. Member would refer to the answer which I gave in March last, he would see that it was to the effect that there was no unanimity as to the best alternative and that this matter has been very closely examined by the experts concerned. I said that in view of the complexity of the investigations and the amount of work involved, we could not possibly expect an answer before the end of this year.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanWill my right hon. and gallant Friend consider giving the public an opportunity of having pure flour for a change instead of all this rubbish of one kind and another?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThe public can have a loaf of that sort now if they want it, but the fact is, whether we like it or not, that they prefer the other.
§ Mr. StokesIs it not a fact that the 85 per cent. loaf is what really saved this country during the war, and why has the Minister allowed the millers to drift back to a policy of poisoning the nation?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI think that as a matter of fact the right hon. Gentleman might ask my predecessor why he did the same thing.