57. Captain MURRAYasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider the advisability of issuing an explanatory memorandum showing what are the articles included in the term other articles of a perishable nature, used in the Second Schedule to the Shops Act, 1911, and giving a definition of the term holiday resort, used in Section 6 (1) of the Shops Act, 1911?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)I have no authority to lay down any rule as to what articles are to be regarded as perishable for the purposes of Schedule II., but I may say that in my opinion the term cannot be taken as applying to articles which would obviously run no risk of deterioration by being kept over the weekly half-holiday. As regards the second point, the Act does not define the phrase "holiday resort," but in the circular which has been issued by the Home Office to local authorities, and which has been placed on sale, some observations are made on the point for the guidance of the authorities, and I shall be happy to send my hon. Friend a copy. He must, however, bear in mind that, while my Department has done its best to explain the effect of the Act, I have no authority whatever to interpret any doubtful point. Such interpretation is the function of the Courts of Law.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has circulated, as was promised in Grand Committee, among all the local authorities, a memorandum from the Home Office explaining the provisions of the Act in full?
§ Mr. McKENNACertainly, a circular has been sent round. I do not know whether it is in strict compliance with the promise made, but I will inquire.