§ 30. Mr. McKinlayasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been drawn to disclosures regarding Hendry's casserole stewed steak, made by Colonel Hugh B. Spens, the chairman of the Food Price Committee in Glasgow and South-West Scotland, as the result of investigations by his committee; did he consider Colonel Spens's action to have been improper; and has any action been taken by the Department to control tinned meats as recommended by the Glasgow and South-West Scotland Committee?
Major Lloyd-GeorgeMy attention has been drawn to reports in the daily Press of the statement referred to by my hon. Friend. Casserole stewed steak is manufactured in Eire and imported under licence approved by my Department. The price at which first-hand sales in this country were to be made was agreed with the importers, and the licences were approved on the condition that the importers would take all possible steps to ensure that the retail price did not exceed is. 6d. per tin. It was arranged six weeks ago that further importations should have the retail price printed on the label. In reply to the second part of the Question, as in this case publication did not prejudice the taking of legal proceedings, the circumstances were different from the other case which has formed the subject of recent Parliamentary Questions. In reply to the last part of the Question, a Maximum Price Order for home-manufactured canned meats is now being drafted which will be followed by a corresponding Order for imported products.