§ 15. Sir DOUGLAS NEWTONasked the. President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to paragraph 2 of the Report of the Food Council, dated 5th February, 1926, on Short Weight and Measure, in which the Council point out that consideration of the accuracy and relative merits of the various types of weighing and measuring instruments at present in use do not fall within their terms of reference; and, if so, whether he is prepared to amend the terms of reference to enable the Food Council to consider such matters?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am aware of the paragraph to which my hon. Friend refers. The question of the construction and accuracy of weighing and measuring instruments in use in trade is a matter which is dealt with under the Weights and Measures Act by the Board of Trade—
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWe cannot hear!
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER—and is of so wide a scope that I do not think it could appropriately be referred to the Food Council.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWe could not hear. [HON. MEMBERS:" Order!"]
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf hon. Members interrupt —
§ Mr. KIRKWOODWhy does the Minister turn his back on us?
§ Mr. SPEAKERI must ask for that answer to be given again.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe only reason I turned, Mr. Speaker, was because otherwise the hon. Member who asked the question could not possibly have heard the answer: [Answer repeated. ]
§ Sir D. NEWTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that while certain classes of weighing machines may be accurate in themselves, they may yet lend themselves to misuse; and may I ask whether he will consider setting up an independent ad hoc Committee to inquire into the whole question?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThat is not the question on the Paper, and if my hon. Friend wants to ask whether I think it desirable to have some further inquiry into the Weights and Measures Acts, and the administration of them, I would like to see the question on the Paper, and give him my considered reply.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether in connection with his proposal he is giving consideration to accelerating counter-machines?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI would like to have notice of that question.