§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Food in what proportion of cases is the national flour supplied for national bread bleached by the gas known as agene; whether he is aware of the danger of poisonous effects arising from this gas and that its use has now been forbidden in the United States of America; and if 131W he will take similar action in the provision of our national bread.
§ Mr. StracheyIn the year 1948, 95.5 per cent. of national flour was treated with agene. As to the second and third parts of the Question, I hope to be able to make a statement soon on the findings of the Scientific Committee under the chairmanship of Sir Wilson Jameson which has, as the hon. Member knows, been reviewing the whole question of this and other flour improvers. But I should point out that even in the United States, under the most rigorous tests, agenised flour has not been found to have any harmful effect upon human beings.