§ MR. MARK STEWART (Kirkcudbright)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade if he can inform the House what is the amount of the article of food called "filled cheese," imported into, or manufactured in, Great Britain and Ireland; whether such importation or manufacture is on the increase, and to what extent; and whether the Government, if in the belief that it injures the sale of the genuine article, will legistate on the subject, with a view to marking "filled cheese," as was done in the Margarine Act?
§ *SIR M. HICKS BEACHThere is no official information respecting the amount of "filled" cheese manufactured in the United Kingdom. As regards importation, I am informed by the Customs that of imitation cheese, which would include "filled" cheese, 1,852 cwt., valued at £3,669, were imported in 1889, and 345 cwt., valued at £648, in the present year up to the 23rd instant. Previous to 1889 there were no entries of such cheese. As at present advised, I do not think it would be desirable to amend the Margarine Act.