HC Deb 30 May 1938 vol 336 cc1748-9

Lords Amendment: In page 5, line 26, at the end, insert: (b) for prohibiting, except in relation to white fish of such description or quality as may be so defined, the use, in any manner or circumstances specified in the regulations, of such designation, mark or other means as may be so prescribed for indicating that such fish are of that description or quality ".

Mr. W. S. Morrison

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

This is to prevent good fish suffering from competition with inferior fish sold under a misleading description.

Lords Amendment: In page 6, line 14, leave out from "may" to, "make", in line 15.

Mr. W. S. Morrison

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

Under the Sub-section as originally drafted all regulations made by the Commission apply only in relation to premises used for fish markets. It became obvious that sales of fish on commission may be made outside registered premises,, and accordingly this Amendment was put down.

Subsequent Lords Amendments to page 6, line 28, agreed to.

Lords Amendment: In page 6, line 29, at the end, insert: (c) for requiring that where, in the case of any white fish consigned for sale on commission, the salesman makes a charge by way of commission or otherwise, he shall enter in a book kept by him for the purpose the names of the owner or consignor of the fish and of every purchaser, and the price paid or agreed to be paid by each purchaser, and shall, as soon as practicable after the sale, send by post or deliver to the owner or consignor an account containing the following particulars:

  1. (i) the actual price paid or agreed to be paid for the fish and, where there is any variation in price, the number, weight or quantity sold, or agreed to be sold, at each price,
  2. (ii) the commission or other charge made by the salesman for selling the fish, together with details of any charges made for services in connection with the sale,
  3. (iii) the amounts, if any, paid or payable by the salesman on behalf of the owner or consignor in connection with the sale, with details thereof, and
  4. (iv) if any of the fish are bought by the salesman or by any person on his behalf, a statement that those fish have been so bought."

Mr. W. S. Morrison

I beg to move, "That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment."

In the course of the discussions on the Report stage, the hon. Member for North Aberdeen (Mr. Garro Jones) moved an Amendment which was designed to incorporate in the Bill the substance of other legislation laying an obligation on those who sell on commission to keep certain records and so on. I accepted the principle of the Amendment. This draft follows very closely the text of the legislation to which I have referred.

8.41 P.m.

Mr. Shinwell

The right hon. Gentleman has tried to meet the point put by my hon. Friend the Member for North Aberdeen (Mr. Garro Jones) and other of my hon. Friends on the Committee stage. This is a proposal which is designed to protect the consumer, and I think it goes a long way in that direction.

Subsequent Lords Amendments to page 9, line 24, agreed to.