HC Deb 12 February 1942 vol 377 cc1601-2W
Sir E. Graham-Little

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will name the scientific advisers under whose guidance the Minister has acted in making his decisions re the bread supply, together with the date of their appointment and the special qualifications determining their respective selection; whether there is any published record of the advice so tendered that would allow of its criticism by other scientists; and what are the relations of the Ministry with the Medical Research Council?

Major Lloyd George

In reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's Question, the Ministry's scientific advisers who have advised my Noble Friend in regard to the fortification of white flour and the specification of wheatmeal are Professor J. C. Drummond, scientific adviser, and Dr. T. Moran, deputy scientific adviser. In addition my Noble Friend has consulted Lord Horder, personal adviser to the Minister on medical aspects of food problems. Professor Drummond was appointed on 1st February, 1940, Dr. Moran on 24th June, 1940, and Lord Horder on the 7th July, 1941. The special qualifications and experience of these officers are well known. The advice given by officers of a Government Department to their Minister is confidential. Consequently it has not been published in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend.

In reply to the last part of the Question there is a close contact between the Ministry of Food and the Medical Re search Council, the secretary of which is one of the members of the Scientific Food Committee appointed by the Lord Privy Seal in June, 1940, to advise upon problems of national food requirements.