HC Deb 03 November 1954 vol 532 c456

(1) Anything required or authorised by or under this Act to be done by, to or before the Board of Trade may be done by, to or before the President of the Board, any Minister of State with duties concerning the affairs of the Board, any Secretary, Under-Secretary, or Assistant Secretary of the Board, or any person authorised in that behalf by the President.

In this subsection the expression "Minister of State" means such a Minister of the Crown as is referred to in section two of the Re-Election of Ministers Act, 1919, as explained by the House of Commons Disqualification (Declaration of Law) Act, 1935.

(2) Notwithstanding anything in subsection (3) of section sixty-five of the principal Act (which relates to the taking of proceedings by county councils and local authorities), no council other than a local authority for the purposes of the Weights and Measures Acts, 1878 to 1936, shall institute proceedings for an offence against regulations made by the Board of Trade under section five of this Act.

(3) Section seventy-seven of the principal Act (which relates to powers of entry) shall not apply in relation to the enforcement of regulations made by the Board of Trade under the said section five, but section ten of the Sale of Food (Weights and Measures) Act, 1926 (which confers special powers of entry and inspection on inspectors of weights and measures), shall apply as if references therein to the said Act of 1926 and to its requirements included references respectively to regulations so made as aforesaid and to the requirements of such regulation.—[Mr. H. Strauss.]

Brought up, and read the First time.

7.15 p.m.

Mr. H. Strauss

I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."

This is consequential upon the Amendments by which the Board of Trade is empowered to regulate the labelling of food as regards weight, measure or number. Subsection (1) is in the usual form showing how the Board of Trade acts. Subsection (2) ensures that only weights and measures authorities shall take proceedings in cases of infringement of weights and measures regulations. Subsection (3) gives the right of entry to these officers.

Clause read a Second time, and added to the Bill.