§ Mr. Duffyasked the Minister of Health, if he will institute an investigation into the effects on human health of the methods used to breed and fatten poultry in factory farms.
§ Mr. LoughlinI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to my hon. Friend the Member for Buckingham (Mr. Maxwell) on 10th March. Until there is some indication that intensive methods as such have any important effect on the chemical composition, nutritive value or general properties of poultry, there is no basis for such an investigation.