48. Mr. Tannerasked the Lord President of the Council what is the present expenditure of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research on research into the better preservation and storage of citrus fruits; and whether he will give any details of this work.
§ Mr. Arthur Greenwood:I have been asked to reply. The food investigation organisation of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has been working on problems of the preservation of citrus fruits and the transport of citrus to this country since 1926 by (1) examining commercial shipments, experimental cargoes and conditions of temperature on ships carrying citrus; (2) arranging visits of officers to South Africa and Palestine and consultation and cooperation with workers in South Africa, Palestine and Australia; (3) experimenting with imported citrus fruits and considering the problems of preserving citrus juices. As regard the first part of the Question, I regret that no separate figure is available.