§ 44. Colonel HOWARD-BURYasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is aware that large quantities of foreign butter are passed off in the English markets as British butter: and whether he will take steps to see that all butter is labelled with its country of origin?
§ 58. Mr. OSWALD LEWISasked the Minister of Agriculture what steps, if any, he proposes to take to prevent proprietary brands of blended butter, containing a high percentage of foreign butter, from being sold under names calculated to make a purchaser suppose that the butter is of entirely English origin?
§ 61. Major CARVERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the selling of blended butter in various proprietary brands, embodying the names of counties or districts which are known to be important agricultural or dairy areas in England; and whether he will take action to ensure that all butter sold to the public shall be so marked that the buyer will not be misled in regard to the origin of the product, and thereby be induced to pay a price substantially in excess of its value?
§ Mr. N. BUXTONRepresentations have been received from time to time that the wording on wrappers containing blended butters is sometimes misleading, in that it may lead purchasers to believe that the contents are British. No case has, however, yet come to my notice in which it would be possible to take a case successfully under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, for the application of a false trade description as to the country of origin. I would remind the hon. Members that it is open to any substantial interest to apply for an Order in Council under Section 2 of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, to secure the marking of all imported butter with an indication of origin. The initiative cannot be taken by the Ministry.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some 80,000 tons of this foreign butter comes into this country, is blended in small packets, is sold with a local label, and is really an impudent fraud on people, because they believe that it is British butter, whereas it is mostly foreign butter?
§ Mr. BUXTONThe question of applying a national mark to butter is being considered, and I hope that it will prove to be effective.
§ Mr. HARDIEIs this butter bought by foreign people residing in Britain, or by British people?
§ Mr. LEWISIf the right hon. Gentleman has not powers to deal with this matter, does he not think that it is of sufficient importance to justify him asking Parliament for further powers?
§ Mr. BUXTONNo, I think that the right remedy is by means of a national mark.