§ 28. Mr. MACLEANasked the Home Secretary whether he can state the reasons for remitting the investigation of complaints of traders charging full prices for articles sold at less than the certified weight; and whether he can have this matter investigated by the inspectors in his own Department and the remedies applied without delay?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)I have been asked to reply. Neither the Board of Trade nor any other Government Department have inspectors who could investigate complaints such as those referred to in the question. The Inspectors of Weights and Measures are officials of the local authorities, and whilst they investigate complaints about infringements of existing legislation, it is the very fact that there are no satisfactory statutory provisions at present in existence to penalise the giving of short weight, except in the cases of bread, tea and coal, which has led the Government to remit the question of remedying this defect in the law to the Food Council for advice.