HC Deb 11 February 1904 vol 129 c1028
MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the hon. Member for Huntingdonshire, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he has received a copy of a resolution passed at a recent meeting of the Wester Ross Farmers' Club, urging the Government to take measures to stop the practice of describing and selling, as malt whiskey, blends of malt with raw grain or German spirits; and, if so, will he state what action it is proposed to take in the matter.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. GERALD BALFOUR,) Leeds. Central

I have been requested by my noble friend the President of the Board of Agriculture to reply to this Question. I have not seen a copy of the resolution referred to by the hon. Member, but if a complaint that a breach of the Merchandise Marks Acts has been committed, in a specific case, is submitted to me, in accordance with the regulations made under Section 2 of the Merchandise Marks Acts, 1891, I will give it my careful consideration.

MR. WEIR

Shall I send the right hon. Gentleman a copy of the resolution in order that he may make inquiries if raw grain or German spirit is sold as malt whiskey?

MR. GERALD BALFOUR

I will give instructions that the hon. Member shall have a copy of the regulations dealing with this matter.