§ MR. SAMUEL YOUNG (Cavan, E.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Treasury whether seeing that the Sale of Food and and Drugs Act only defines in general terms what constitutes adulteration, the Government will consider the advisability of appointing a permanent board of reference, to which appeals may be made for guidance and authoritative advice touching the permissible composition, and the definition and the brands which should be used in the sale of food and drinks.
§ THE PRIME MINISTER AND FIRST LORD OF THE TREASURY (Sir H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMAN,) Stirling BurghsThe establishment of a board of reference that would be empowered to prescribe standards of the quality and purity of food has been more than once suggested, and, I may add, that some authority of the sort appears to me to be indispensable, if the intentions of Parliament with respect to the administration of the laws affecting adulteration are to be rendered effectual. I am advised, however, that legislation would be necessary for the purpose, and the Government see no prospect of introducing such legislation during the present session.