§ 23. Mr. Liptonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking on the report of the Food Standards Committee on the contents of meat pies.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsMy right hon. Friend has invited the interests concerned to comment on the report.
§ Mr. LiptonHaving already blotted his copy-book by rejecting the Committee's suggestion on the subject of sausages, will the hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that in listening to these representations he will reject the most fantastic suggestion that was made to the Committee to the effect that a meat pie is a farinaceous article and that meat is present only to give flavour? Is it really too much to expect so-called meat pies to have at least 25 per cent. minimum meat content?
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsI cannot give the hon. Gentleman that assurance. I have said that my right hon. Friend will con- 16 sider the comments he has asked for and then he will take a decision.
Mrs. SlaterWill the hon. Gentleman also look at this problem from the point of view of the housewives and of the local authorities? Is he aware that local authority food inspectors find it very difficult to deal with anyone who is found supplying either sausages or meat pies with little meat content? The housewife is being robbed enough already without any further impositions at the present time.