HC Deb 12 July 1909 vol 7 cc1637-8
Mr. POWER

asked the Vice-President of the Department whether, in consequence of the frauds which recent investigations have proved to be practised in London and Liverpool by selling margarine for butter, the Department is obtaining samples in other centres of population in Great Britain with the view of testing how far this fraudulent trading prevails, and of taking steps to prevent the same?

Mr. CHERRY

The answer to the question is in the affirmative. The hon. Member may rest assured that the Department will do everything possible to cope with the fraudulent practice referred to, but it would be obviously undesirable to indicate publicly the steps to be taken.

Mr. POWER

asked whether any, and, if so, how many, prosecutions have been instituted against traders in London and Liverpool who were recently found in 93 cases out of 115 samples taken by the Department to have sold margarine for butter; and what steps it is proposed to take to check this wholesale fraud on producers of butter and on the consumers who are charged butter prices for margarine?

Mr. CHERRY

No prosecutions were, or could be, instituted under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts in respect of the samples referred to, which were taken in-formally for the purpose of obtaining information to put before the responsible local authorities. The whole matter is engaging the attention of the Department, but it would be undesirable to mention specifically the steps proposed to be taken, as such a course might tend to frustrate the object in view.

Mr. J. C. FLYNN

May I ask if the Irish Department cannot institute prosecutions in England, will they communicate with the English Board of Agriculture and with the Local Government Board with a view to prosecuting, seeing the increase there is in these very fraudulent practices?

Mr. CHERRY

I cannot promise, but if the Department think they discover a case of fraud they will use every means in their power to have a prosecution instituted. If they can prosecute themselves they will do so.

Mr. FLYNN

That is not quite an answer. Will they put pressure on the Departments in this country to take some steps?

Mr. CHERRY

Each individual case will be considered on the merits and with the advice of the Law Officers. You cannot undertake to put pressure beforehand.

Mr. W. P. BYLES

Do the 93 eases referred to in this question represent 93 separate traders, and were the 150 samples taken at random or from selected traders who were already suspected?

Mr. CHERRY

I really must ask the hon. Member to put that question down.

Mr. FLYNN

Was not all the information on that point given in the Committee upstairs? There were 93 distinct prosecutions.