HC Deb 09 April 1804 vol 22 cc1568-9
MR. SEYMOUR KEAY (Elgin and Nairn)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether Her Majesty's Government will favourably consider the recommendations of the Committee of the House of Lords on the marking of foreign meat—namely, that every dealer in this class of meat should be required to register himself as such, and to affix a notice over his shop intimating that he is a registered dealer in that commodity, also that inspection should be made of retail butchers' shops by duly qualified Inspectors to secure compliance with these conditions?

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. H. GARDNER,) Essex, Saffron Walden

I understand that the recommendations to which my hon. Friend refers are embodied in the; Bill standing in the name of my hon. Friend the Member for the South Molton Division. We shall give very careful consideration to the arguments advanced in support of that Bill should an opportunity for its discussion arise; but Her Majesty's Government are not satisfied either that further legislation is necessary, or that the adoption of the proposals of the Committee would be of any real benefit to home producers, and they are, therefore, not disposed themselves to initiate legislation on the subject.