HC Deb 04 March 1909 vol 1 c1584
Mr. KILBRIDE

asked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether he can state the number of prosecutions which have been instituted and the number of convictions obtained by the Department for the fraudulent substitution and sale of margarine for butter during the 12 months ending 31st December, 1908?

Mr. CHERRY

During the year 1908 there were purchased on behalf of the Department 920 samples sold as butter and 2 samples sold as margarine. Of the samples purchased as butter 6 proved on analysis to be margarine. Proceedings were instituted in respect of these samples and convictions were obtained in five cases.

Mr. KILBRIDE

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the figures that he has just read out apply to England or to Ireland, and whether he is aware that the Department in Ireland, when they want to take proceedings here to bring guilty parties to justice, finds it must act through some other Department of the Government, and whether it is proposed to allow the Vice-President of the Board of Agriculture to prosecute for fraud committed in Irish products in this country?

Mr. CHERRY

I really must ask my hon. Friend to put down that question. I am only answering for my right hon. Friend the Vice-President, and have given all the information I have.

Mr. FLYNN

Is he furnished with information to show that the Act is inoperative owing to the fact that the Department allow the handling of margarine and butter to be carried on under the same roof?

Mr. CHERRY

I must ask for notice of that also.

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