§ Sir A. Bossomasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the tenderometer standardisation of peas.
§ Mr. John HareI am informed by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research that work on tenderometer standardisation has continued under the auspices of a committee on which the National Farmers' Union and the processors are represented. During the past two seasons three master tenderometers were kept aligned by frequent checks. They were maintained at the Fruit and Vegetable Canning and Quick Freezing Research Association, Chipping Campden (which receives a grant from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research); the Pea Growing Research Organisation at Yaxley; and the research department of a large canning firm. Considerable progress has been made over the past three years in providing reliable standardisation samples. During the past two seasons samples of specially prepared processed peas were distributed from Campden to most pea canners to enable them to standardise their tenderometers. It is hoped ultimately that it may be possible to provide sufficient samples to standardise and to check all instruments.