MR. LAWRENCE (Liverpool, Abercrombie)I beg to ask the President of the Board of Agriculture whether he is aware that while a Committee of his Department is inquiring as to the use of borax or boracic acid as a preservative in cream, tradesmen in Liverpool are being frequently prosecuted for its use; and whether until such Departmental Committee has reported, he will use his influence with the local authorities to stop such prosecutions.
§ THE PRESIDENT OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. CHAPLIN, Lincolnshire, Sleaford)I am aware that there have been prosecutions of this kind, though my attention has not been drawn to the particular cases referred to by my hon. friend. The Local Government Board have no power to restrain the local authority in the exercise of their powers under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, and it does not appear to me that they could intervene in the manner suggested in the question.