HC Deb 10 November 1958 vol 595 cc11-2
16. Mr. Lipton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Food Standards Committee will complete its report on the composition of flour and bread, which has been under consideration since May, 1956.

Mr. Godber

An interim report dealing with milk bread will be available early in the new year. My right hon. Friend, understands however, that investigation of the technical problems involved is taking longer than the Committee had expected and that it will be some little time before the drafting of their main report can be put in hand.

Mr. Lipton

Is that not a disappointing reply in view of the assurance given to me by the hon. Gentleman that the Committee would report by the end of the year? Is he aware that many people are convinced that our bread is not as good as it used to be? It has been described as doped cotton wool. When will he get a move on to deal with what many people regard as a serious problem?

Mr. Godber

To get the record right, I did not give an undertaking. I said that my right hon. Friend hoped that the Committee would be able to report by the end of the year. I am sorry that that hope may not be fully realised. I agree with the hon. Member that we should like to get the report fairly soon, but it is a very technical matter, as I am sure he will agree. I would not agree with him in his description of bread. He must be very unfortunate either in his choice of baker or his palate.