§ 15. Mr. Darlingasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce regulations under the appropriate Weights and Measures Acts or Merchandise Marks Acts to ensure that accurate measures of the contents are clearly marked on cans of beer.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Reginald Maudling)I think that it would be preferable to deal with this matter in the Weights and Measures Bill which is now in preparation.
§ Mr. DarlingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some brewery companies print the words "Two-glass size" on cans of beer, but that when they are emptied they are found not to contain a glass and a half? Is he aware that this is only one example of misleading labelling? How much longer must we wait before anything is done to protect the public against this kind of swindling?
§ Mr. MaudlingI do not know that I accept the word "swindling", but I share the hon. Member's interest in this matter and I agree that the situation is not satisfactory as it stands. But it would be better to bring this and other similar matters together in one Bill. This is now practically ready, and I hope that it will be presented in the next Session.