§ Sir T. Beamishasked the Parliamentary Secretary for Science whether the Medical Research Council is studying all reported cases of food poisoning in this country to establish whether or not chemical spray residues in food carry any responsibility for such poisoning.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethNo. The investigation of cases of food poisoning is a matter for the local authorities in association with the Public Health Laboratory Service and the public analysts, but the Council investigate relevant problems of a fundamental nature. They are also carrying out a continuing programme of basic research into problems bearing on the toxicity of agricultural chemicals to human beings. The Research Study Group on Toxic Chemicals in Agriculture and Food Storage stated in their Report published in 1961 that they could find no evidence of chronic effects from the ingestion of traces of pesticides in food.