§ 1. Dr. Broughtonasked the Minister of Health what steps he intends taking to lessen the incidence of food poisoning, in view of the report contained in Command Paper No. 8582, of an increase in the number of cases of the illness.
§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Iain Macleod)I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Reigate (Mr. Vaughan-Morgan) by myself on 16th October and by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food on 20th October.
§ Dr. BroughtonBut does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that now is an opportune time for him, accompanied by the Minister of Food, to approach the Prime Minister and to stress the need for early legislation to amend the Food and Drugs Acts? As a Bill for that purpose is ready for presentation to Parliament will he do his utmost to try to ensure that that is brought before us as the first piece of legislation in the new Session, instead of the nonsense about de-nationalisation?
§ Mr. MacleodI cannot give any guarantee about legislation in any Session. I have a personal interest in this matter because I am suffering at the present time from a mild attack of food poisoning and I will certainly go into all the matters raised by the hon. Member.