§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Minister of Health whether he will give an estimate of the number of people over 60 years of age who suffer from disordered nutrition.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonFrom investigations made and others in progress it appears that overt malnutrition is rare. Investigations to detect subclinical degrees of malnutrition are being prepared. Malnutrition when it occurs is frequently secondary to some other disease of the elderly.
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§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Minister of Health what facilities he has to determine the extent and significance of malnutrition amongst elderly people and children, respectively.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonDietary surveys have been and are being conducted through the medium of the Government Social Survey, and my own staff have the co-operation of geriatricians and paediatricians throughout the country. The data produced are examined by my Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy, to whom I look for advice on this subject.
§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Minister of Health what biochemical surveys he has conducted to ascertain the extent of nutritional deficiencies among elderly and young people, respectively.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI am currently combining biochemical and other nutritional studies of children and similar investigations are proposed among the elderly. The findings are being examined by expert panels of my Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy.
§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that the composition of white flour is now such as to prevent malnutrition; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonFlour alone cannot prevent malnutrition; good nutritional standards depend on the consumption of a balanced diet. Research into certain aspects of the composition of flour is being currently undertaken under the auspicies of the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Food Policy.
§ Mr. Gwynfor Evansasked the Minister of Health what evidence he has as to the existence of such diseases connected with malnutrition as glossitis, angular stomatitis, cheilosis and myodoema, and how prevalent they are.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI am advised that these conditions, which are not necessarily connected with malnutrition, can only be diagnosed subjectively and that therefore no accurate estimate of prevalence can be made.