§ 52. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are his plans for building up at Tony Experimental Food Station, Aberdeen, stocks of dehydrated food for emergencies such as those stocks which were found useful recently in connection with the Hungarian crisis.
§ Mr. GodberMy right hon. Friend has no such plans. This is an experimental establishment, and production of dehydrated foods in any quantity is therefore no part of its work.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the hon. Gentleman not realise that this valuable food, which lasts indefinitely, could be used in our own national emergencies arising from such things as floods or storms or even war, and should he not lay up stocks accordingly?
§ Mr. GodberI do not dispute the value of the food for one moment. What I am saying is that this experimental factory is not equipped or designed to go into production. It has found that such foods can be produced, but it is up to commercial firms to exploit that knowledge.