HC Deb 25 July 1934 vol 292 cc1775-7
33. Sir BASIL PETO

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether his attention has been called to the fact that last year 37,205 metric tons of butter were imported into this country from the Soviet Republic of Russia, and that this butter is not offered for retail sale in this country as Russian or Soviet butter, but is blended with other butters and sold under various names which in no case inform the public as to what they are buying; and whether he will introduce legislation when Parliament reassembles to amend the present law and make obligatory the full description of the origin of the component parts of all blended butter sold by retail?

Mr. ELLIOT

The question of the marking of blends of butter consisting of or containing imported butter was fully investigated by the Standing Committee under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, and is discussed in paragraphs 23–30 of their report (Cmd. 3878). The present requirements in this connection of the Merchandise Marks (Imported Goods) No. 1 Order, 1932, are based upon recommendations of the Committee, and I cannot hold out any hope of further legislation with the object indicated by my hon. Friend.

Sir B. PETO

Surely the right hon. Gentleman does not wish the House to infer that the Government have learned nothing since the findings of that committee of 1926, six years ago, and cannot he review the question with an open mind in view of the alteration in policy which the National Government have adopted?

Mr. ELLIOT

Although there has been an alteration in Government policy, there is no alteration in the fundamental difficulty of discovering by analysis from what country a particular portion of a pat of butter may have come.

Sir B. PETO

Why is it more difficult to have an inspector in butter factories than to have a gauger in a distillery?

Mr. ELLIOT

To institute control of all processes of all butter-making as rigorous as the control of all distilleries would, as the hon. Member's neighbour the hon. and learned Member for Argyllshire (Mr. Macquisten) can tell him, be a very long business.

Mr. MACQUISTEN

If the Board of Trade cannot distinguish between Russian butter and British butter, and between dyed kippers and genuine kippers, what is the good of it?