HC Deb 24 June 1953 vol 516 cc1883-4
13. Mr. F. Maclean

asked the Minister of Food what offers he has so far received for the 500,000 tons of adulterated orange juice concentrate purchased in error by his Department and now offered for sale.

Major Lloyd George

Of the 500,000 gallons—not tons—of juice which did not accord with the purchase specification, as yet only part has been reconditioned and prepared for sale. No more than a few trial barrels have been sold.

Mr. Maclean

In view of the heavy financial loss involved, and in view of the very long time which it took to discover what was happening, will my right hon. and gallant Friend institute an early inquiry into this whole business?

Major Lloyd George

That would not be necessary, I can assure my hon. Friend, because I have personally gone into this matter very carefully, and I can assure him that we are doing everything we can to avoid any repetition.

Sir D. Robertson

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend recollect the written answers he gave to Questions of mine this week which indicated that a fraud had occurred there, and that 18 shipments at least have been rejected and of 54 which have been accepted two were found to be defective and thoroughly unwholesome?

Major Lloyd George

My hon. Friend has a Question later on that, and I shall deal with it.

21. Sir D. Robertson

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the preservative used in defective shipments of orange juice purchased by his Department from Sicily is so virulent that the lacquer on the cans is destroyed; and, in view of the possible danger to consumers, if he will stop all sales, pending further inquiry and examination.

Major Lloyd George

The use of this preservative is a common and harmless practice. The effect of the reaction on the containers is being removed by appropriate treatment, and searching tests of the reconditioned juice by the Government Chemist, the British Food Manufacturing Industries Research Association and chemists drawn from the trade have disclosed no harmful substances.

Sir D. Robertson

Does my right hon. and gallant Friend really think that it is right for a Government Department to traffic in orange juice of this kind, and in view of the strange circumstances surrounding the whole of this contract would it not be good policy to destroy the lot and stop the expense of £1,000 a week for storage?

Major Lloyd George

No, I do not think so. The question is whether this juice is harmful, and there is no question at all about that, it is not harmful. There is also the other point that if the manufacturers do not want it they do not have to buy it.

Mr. Marlowe

If these particular deliveries were not up to the standard in accordance with the specifications why were they accepted by the Ministry of Food? Why were they not rejected, as they could be under the contract?

Major Lloyd George

Because in all contracts this particular type of juice does not have anything added to it. On this particular occasion, quite contrary to the specification, it was added to, and this was not discovered until it was made into welfare juice. As far as the vendors are concerned, action has been taken, but I would remind my hon. and learned Friend that this consignment was ordered long before we came into power.