§ 43. Mr. K. Robinsonasked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the substantial fall in the take-up of orange juice and cod-liver oil since the Welfare Foods Amendment Order, S.I., 1961, No. 352, came into force; and if, in view of the consequent adverse effect on the health of mothers and babies, he will restore the subsidy on vitamin supplements which the order abolished.
§ Mr. PowellI am aware of the fall, but do not accept that there will be adverse effects on health.
§ Mr. RobinsonDoes the Minister know the extent of the fall? Is he aware that the evidence available suggests that the drop for orange juice and cod-liver oil has been between 60 and 70 per cent.? As the Parliamentary Secretary said when we debated the Order in April that she did not expect a fall but if there was one the matter 617 would be reconsidered, does the Minister not think that the time has come to reconsider it?
§ Mr. PowellThe months immediately following the introduction of charges do not provide a fully satisfactory comparison with the months immediately preceding. I have no reason to doubt that the appropriate vitamin intake is being obtained, though no doubt more will be obtained in future from other sources.
§ Mr. RobinsonHow can the Minister know that? As his hon. Friend said in that debate that the vitamin supplements were still desirable and promised to reconsider the matter if the intake fell, and as the take-up has fallen by 70 per cent., surely the right hon. Gentleman must now reconsider the matter?
§ Mr. PowellThe appropriate vitamin element in diet is, of course, desirable, but it is not dependent upon, nor mainly derived from, these supplements. There are many ways in which the nutrition of the population can be watched.