§ 1. Dr. David Kerrasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what support he is giving to research into alternative sources of protein supply for animal and human consumption, respectively.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. James Hoy)Research into this subject is being carried on under the auspices of the Agricultural Research Council. My right hon. Friend has asked the Food Research Advisory Committee to consider whether further Government support for this kind of research is required.
§ Dr. KerrI thank my hon. Friend for that helpful reply. However, would he not agree that one of the most grave shortages of any foodstuff in the world is that of protein food? May we have an assurance that research being conducted in this country has in mind the needs of overseas countries whose protein shortage is even more serious than ours is likely to be?
§ Mr. HoyI give my hon. Friend and the House that assurance. A considerable amount of research is being done, not only by the Government, but under the auspices of private industry. We all have in mind the needs of overseas countries as well as our own.