HL Deb 24 July 1967 vol 285 cc607-8

2.35 p.m.

LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDAL

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether full information is being obtained from the United States of America, in connection with the investigations taking place in that country, about the adverse effects that appear to arise from the wider use of cyclamates for artificial sweetening, and what progress is being made in the United Kingdom in the consideration now being given to this subject.]

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, I have no doubt that when the work which is being undertaken in the United States has been completed the results will be made available. My right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has received the Report of the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee, following their appraisal of the further toxicological data about cyclamates which had been submitted to him. He will announce his decision about the use of these before Parliament rises.

LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDAL

My Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for that reply, may I ask whether it would be possible for a Statement to be made in this House at the same time as it is made in another place?

BARONESS PHILLIPS

My Lords, I hear a murmur from the Chief Whip that, "It all depends …". But if it is not possible I will certainly see that the noble Lord receives this information in writing, and any other information that comes with it.

LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDAL

My Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for that further reply; but is it not desirable that other noble Lords also should be made aware of this statement which may be about to be made?

LORD SHEPHERD

My Lords, the reason why my noble friend said that "it depends …" is that it depends upon the day on which the Statement is made. If it is non-controversial it may well be taken on a Wednesday in the morning, in which case it has been found unnecessary to repeat it in your Lordships' House in the afternoon. But, clearly, if it is made on a weekday afternoon at 3.30 o'clock it will be repeated here as a normal event.

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