§ 18. Sir W. de FRECEasked the Minister of Health if his Department is satisfied that the retail grocers will be able 1002 within the allotted time to dispose of their existing stocks of goods containing preservatives, whose use will be barred in future under the recent orders; and how the already existing changes in the law in this respect are operating?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINSeeing that the Regulations were made as long ago as August, 1925, I think the time available for the disposal of retail stocks can only be regarded as ample. But, to meet special cases, I suggested to local authorities that they should abstain from proceedings during the first few months of the year where they are satisfied that reasonable efforts have been made to clear old stocks. So far as I am able to judge at present, the Regulations, so far as they are already operative, are working satisfactorily.