§ MR. J. RAMSAY MACDONALD (Leicester)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his attention has been drawn to two cases of prosecution for adulteration which came before the Leicester magistrates, who fined a woman just started in business in a small shop £10 for adulterating butter, and who imposed upon a grocer long established in business £5 also for adulterating butter, and for, at the same time, obstructing the inspector; and whether he will state what action the Home Office proposes to take in the matter.
§ * THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. GLADSTONE, Leeds, W.)Yes, Sir; and I have been in communication with the justices on the subject. On the facts submitted, I am unable to see how the £5 can be justified if the £10 fine was just. But I have no power to raise the amount of a fine. As regards the £10 fine, which was paid at once, while I think, under the circumstances, it was severe, the severity did not appear to me quite to justify interference, having regard to the necessity which exists in the public interest to deal effectively with offences against the Food and Drugs Act.