§ 58. Mr. Fosterasked the Minister of Food what representations he has received from local authorities respecting the Defence (Sale of Food) Regulations, 1943, the suspension of the provisions of Section 6 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, from 1st January, 1944, and the proviso to paragraph 5 of the Regulations making it obligatory for food and drugs authorities to obtain the prior approval of the Minister of Food before instituting proceedings; and why local authorities have been deprived of these powers.
§ Colonel LlewellinThe reply to the first part of the Question is "None, Sir"; to the second, 16 local authorities. The main reason for the inclusion of the proviso referred to is to ensure that if it necessary to take proceedings they are taken against the manufacturer who is responsible for the false description and not against the retailers.
§ Mr. FosterIs not the Minister aware that local bodies are much concerned about being deprived of these powers? Would he say that the Minister is a better judge than local authorities as to whether a prosecution is necessary?
§ Colonel LlewellinThe reason is that these prosecutions will be mainly for the labels on products and the person we really want to get at is the manufacturer who has produced the labels and not the retailer who in various areas in the country may be selling the goods. It is also advisable to have these prosecutions uniform throughout the country.