§ 8. Dr. David Kerrasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will institute a cost/benefit study of the feeding to livestock of protein foodstuffs derived from flour waste 392 by the new method, details of which have been sent to him.
§ Mr. John MackieThis work is being undertaken by an independent company who are carrying out exhaustive tests. Our scientists work closely and continuously with the Agricultural Research Council on the evaluation of all feeding-stuffs. We have arranged for them to discuss developments further with scientists of the company concerned.
§ Dr. KerrWhile thanking my hon. Friend for that helpful reply, may I ask him to assure us that the protein shortage is regarded by his Ministry as a problem of world magnitude needing the most urgent prosecution in its solution? Will he also assure the House that he is in touch with his colleague the Minister of Overseas Development, in view of the relevance of this research to overseas territories which are even shorter of protein than we are here?
§ Mr. MackieI can assure the House on those two points.