80. Mr. J. P. L. THOMASasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in order to help the housewife to buy British, he is prepared to initiate legislation requiring retail vendors of all butchers' meat and poultry to indicate the origin, British, Empire, or Foreign, of their commodities on the legible statement of net weight already issued to the purchaser at the time of delivery under Section 5 of the Sale of Foods (Weights and Measures) Act, 1926?
§ Sir J. GILMOURThe question raised by my hon. Friend is essentially one of marking, for which provision is already made in the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926. Under that Act it is open to any substantial interest to apply in respect 668 of any class of imported goods for an order requiring the marking of such goods with an indication of the country of origin. I understand that the question of submitting applications in respect of both meat and poultry is under consideration by the National Farmers' Union. Should these applications materialise they would form the subject of inquiries by the Standing Committee set up under the Act for the purpose, and the question of a suitable and practical method of conveying to retail purchasers information as to the country of origin of their individual purchases is one which would fall to the Committee for consideration.
§ Mr. LUNNIs it not a fact that the people who refuse to use the National Mark are usually supporters of this bogus National Government?