Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the amount of condemned food is still high in many 240W towns in the country; and whether he will investigate the returns from all the chief Lancashire boroughs in order to ascertain the causes of this waste?
§ Mr. MabaneI have no reason to believe that excessive quantities of food are being condemned in any part of the country. In certain areas condemnations may appear to be high for the reasons given in my reply to the Question put by my hon. Friend on the 14th October last. All practicable steps are taken to prevent food from becoming unfit for human consumption and local health authorities have been asked to advise my Department of condemnations. Under existing arrangements investigation would be made into any case where the quantity involved appeared unduly high, and no special investigation into the position in Lancashire boroughs is called for at the moment.