HC Deb 22 March 1917 vol 91 cc2035-6
73. Mr. BILLING

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is prepared to consider the advisability of insisting that all retailers of tea, cocoa, and similar commodities, whose habit it is to give short weight when retailing such commodities by weighing in paper or other wrapping, shall state in a conspicuous position on the outside cover of such wrapping the exact weight of such paper or other wrapping; and whether he will now state what is the maximum weight of wrapping which the Food Controller proposes to permit?

75 and 76. Mr. DUNDAS WHITE

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (1) whether his attention has been called to the fact that when tea, coffee, and cocoa-powder are sold in packages of certain weights, the weight being inclusive of the wrapper or wrappers, the notice to that effect required by law is sometimes so unobtrusive as not to attract notice: whether the Food Controller will issue a regulation on this subject under the Defence of the Realm Act; and (2) whether when tea, coffee, and cocoa-powder are sold in packages of certain weights, these weights being inclusive of the wrapper or wrappers, these wrappers which are sometimes of both foil and paper, in some instances make up an undue proportion of the weight, particularly in the case of the smaller packages; and whether the Food Controller will issue a regulation under the Defence of the Realm Act restricting the proportional weights of the wrappers?

Captain BATHURST

The question of the full net weights of packages of tea and other commodities is the subject of a further conference with different sections of the trades affected, and a definite decision may be expected in the course of next week.

Mr. BILLING

When that conference is held will the hon. Gentleman give attention to the fact that this particular thing presses most hardly on the very community which the Food Controller should look after himself?

Captain BATHURST

I have already said that a decision will be come to as regards this matter next week. I hope I shall not be further pressed at the present time, because I cannot believe that an interrogatory fusilade will conduce to the decision being advanced.