§ 16. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the practicability of selling bread in frozen form, so enabling price reductions to be made, what research he proposes to undertake to investigate the possibilities in this respect.
The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. V. M. F. Vane)I do not think that it has been established that there would be any economic advantage in selling bread in frozen form but the Food Research Advisory Committee, which was set up by my right hon. Friend's predecessor and the Secretary of State for Scotland in April last year and which is at present carrying out a general survey of food research needs, is being asked to consider whether we should be justified in making public funds available for further research into this question.
§ Mr. DoddsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the United States Government have been financing surveys on the practicability of selling frozen bread? Further, is he aware that the results have shown several advantages and also the possibility of a reduction in price? I 13 am not saying that it is good, but, as this is an important matter, will the hon. Gentleman look into it from that point of view?
Mr. VaneI have said that my right hon. Friend is asking the Food Research Advisory Committee to look at this matter, but the hon. Gentleman should not assume that the conditions for the distribution of bread in the United States and in this country are necessarily the same.