§ 11. Mr. Liptonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken on the report of the Food Standards Committee on the contents of meat pies.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsMy right hon. Friends are considering this Report in the light of the representations made to us since it was published.
§ Mr. LiptonCan the Parliamentary Secretary say on what date he received the Report of the Food Standards Committee, which consulted all the trading interests concerned? Why has it taken so long for this palsied Government to make up their mind on how much meat there should be in a meat pie?
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThe Report took seven years to produce. We received 828 it eight months ago. My right hon. Friends are giving it their consideration.
Mrs. SlaterDoes not the Parliamentary Secretary realise that this is a very important question for people all over the country, and even in this House? It is important to housewives and also to health committees of local authorities who have to deal with this problem. No standard whatever is imposed merely by reference to the amount of meat. Could not the consideration of this Report be hurried up, rather than that we should have the Minister saying that it took seven years to produce? It might take the Governmnet seven years to give a decision.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsI can assure the hon. Lady that it will not take seven years. My right hon. Friends are seized of the importance of this matter.