§ 4. Mr. W. BAKERasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the automatic counter scales which are being rapidly adopted by retail shopkeepers comply with the 1907 regulations made under Section 5 of the Weights and Measures Act; whether it is regular for inspectors to stamp them; and whether he will amend the regulations and introduce additional safeguards against fraud?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Burton Chadwick)The answer is rather long, and the hon. Member will perhaps not object to my having it circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
§ The machines referred to can be stamped by an Inspector of Weights and Measures only when the Board of Trade 265 have issued a certificate under Section 6 of the Weights and Measures Act, 1904, that the pattern is not such as to facilitate the perpetration of fraud. Apart from any special features of design which may be covered by the Board's certificate in any particular case, all such machines are required to conform to the general requirements of the Weights and Measures Act, 1907, particularly as regards accuracy. It is considered that the present procedure is adequate to prevent the use of machines whose design would facilitate fraud, but it is recognised that there is need for making additional Regulations for the guidance of makers and users of this type of machine, and the preparation of such Regulations is under consideration.