§ Sir FRANCIS CHANNINGasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he has now considered the Reports of the sub-department as to the regulation of food supplies under Dr. Buchanan; and whether he proposes to issue regulations under The Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907, at the earliest date possible, to restrain the use of preservatives to disguise putrefaction in meat, poultry, and fish, and especially to carry out the recommendation of the Departmental Committee on Preservatives in 1901, and to absolutely prohibit 168W the use of formaldehyde or its preparations in foods or drinks, and in express terms make it a criminal offence to soak, spray, fumigate, or otherwise impregnate meat, poultry, fish, etc., with any preparation of formaldehyde?
§ Mr. BURNSI have had before me reports made by the inspectors of foods on the subject of preservatives in food materials. Further inquiries and reports on other aspects of the subject are being made, and when they are complete I shall give consideration to the whole subject with a view of determining what action should be taken with regard to it.