§ 12. Mr. Christopher Priceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list the bodies which have made representations to her about the labelling and the sterilisation of bonemeal.
§ Dr. OwenThe only representations my Department has received in 1974 and 1975 are from the Housewives' Trust.
§ Mr. PriceIs my hon. Friend aware that since the death of one of my constituents last year from anthrax, after handling an ordinary packet of bonemeal bought in the shops, his Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food have been extremely dilatory in taking more appropriate measures to ensure that this sort of thing does not happen again? Has my hon. Friend ever seen the warning notices on packets of unsterilised bonemeal? Short of a complete ban on the sale of bonemeal, will he take steps to ensure that the warning notices are immediately made very much larger?
§ Dr. OwenAs my hon. Friend knows, I share his concern. As a result of the tragic death of one of his constituents I asked the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and my Department to set up a working group to consider this matter. The working group has met twice and it has asked about the experience of other European countries. It has not had replies to all the questionnaires, but some countries require sterilisation of bonemeal. I agree with my hon. Friend that this is an issue that must be seriously considered.