§ MR. ALDERMAK COTTONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, If he is aware that firms are still being prosecuted and fined for selling wholesome but common teas, alleged to be adulterated, but which are 855 of such quality as the Parliamentary Committee recommend to be admitted for consumption; and, whether he can issue a Circular to the magistrates expressing the wish that they will be especially careful in carrying out the law until an opportunity has been afforded for fresh Legislation?
MR. ASSHETON CROSS, in reply, said, his attention had not been called to the prosecution of offences under the Adulteration of Food Act. That matter came under the cognizance of the Local Government Board rather than that of the Home Office he did not think it was competent to the Home Secretary to issue a Circular to magistrates instructing them that they should be specially careful as to the way in which they carried out the Law on this subject as long as that Law existed. He entirely agreed with an Answer which was given by his right hon. Friend the President of the Local Government Board the other night—that it was impossible for the Government to take any steps which would have the effect of restricting the operation of the Law or to introduce a suspensory Bill. But, he trusted that having regard to the Report of the Select Committee who had inquired into this subject this Session the local authorities would be extremely careful in instituting prosecutions on the subject of adulteration of food until an opportunity had been afforded for Legislation.