HC Deb 25 July 1957 vol 574 cc568-70
6. Mrs. Mann

asked the President of the Board of Trade the items of food in which variation is permitted between net and average weight, and the permitted variation.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. F. J. Erroll)

Weights and measures law requires minimum net weight to be marked on the containers of many pre-packed foods, but lays down no conditions about marking with average weight.

Mrs. Mann

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Weights and Measures Report urges that net weight only should be shown, and that inspectors have been asking for this for a number of years? When does he expect to give effect to their requests?

Mr. Erroll

My understanding of the Hodgson Committee's Report is that it did not recommend any alteration in the legal position relating to the marking of average weight.

Mrs. Mann

Will the hon. Gentleman read the Report again?

7. Mrs. Mann

asked the President of the Board of Trade the items of non-food commodities sold to the public and in general use on which there is no statutory obligation to state weight, or number within boxes or packets.

Mr. Erroll

All non-food commodities, whether pre-packed or not, except coal in sales over 2 cwt., and sand and ballast in sales over 1 ton or 1 cubic yard, can be sold without a statement of weight or number.

Mrs. Mann

As there is such a wide fluctuation over such a great variety of items, can the hon. Gentleman say how it is possible accurately to assess the cost-of-living index?

Mr. Erroll

The assessment of the cost-of-living index is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

8. Mrs. Mann

asked the President of the Board of Trade the items of food or substances used in the making thereof which can be sold to the public under his Regulations without any obligation to state average or net weight.

Mr. Erroll

I am sending the hon. Lady the long list of foodstuffs which must be sold with some statement of their weight, measure or number.

Mrs. Mann

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that that will be much preferable to his giving to a supplementary of mine an idiotic answer?

Mrs. Slater

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that in these days of self-service shops, of packaged goods and packaged vegetables, there is a very urgent need, in the interest of the housewife, for the Government to do something about extending the list of commodities which must be marked with an average weight, and will the Government say when they are prepared to do something about it?

Mr. Erroll

I think that it is important to distinguish between net weight and average weight.