§ Lords Amendment: In page 68, line 39, leave out paragraph 5.
§ Mr. D. PriceI beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.
The Amendment deletes the paragraph which requires that where a part of a joint of meat is removed by the butcher at the customer'srequest—for example, by boning or trimming—before it is delivered, the delivery note must state two weights, namely, the original weight on which the purchase price was based and the actual weight sent out for delivery. This requirement has been in operation since 1926, but we are satisfied that it is not necessary in the consumer's interest to retain it. If the House accepts the Amendment, meat will be subject only to the general delivery note provisions of Clause 23. This was an Opposition Amendment which was accepted by the Government in another place.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§
Lords Amendment: In page 71, leave out line 8, and insert:
and for the purposes of this Act any pre-packed sliced bread shall be deemed to be a whole loaf of bread and the pre-packing of sliced bread in any quantity by net weight shall be deemed to be the making for sale of a whole loaf of bread of that net weight.
§ 10.30 p.m.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethI beg to move. That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.
This is designed to make it clear that pre-packed sliced bread is subject to the same statutory requirements as the ordinary whole loaf. It appeared to us, after looking at the Bill again, and an answer to an Opposition point raised in another place, that there was here a possible method of abusing the provisions of the Bill.
§ Question put and agreed to.
676
§
Lords Amendment: In page 71, line 33, at end insert:
3A. If in the case of any pre-packed milk its container is clearly and conspicuously marked with a statement in writing that it is not for sale otherwise than by means of a vending machine, then, notwithstanding that the milk is made up in a quantity other than one of those specified in paragraph 3(a) of this Part of this Schedule, a person shall not by reason only of that fact be guilty of an offence under section 22(2) of this Act—
§ Mr. D. PriceI beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.
This is the second leg of the milk vending machines Amendments. This deals with Part V of the Fourth Schedule, and provides the same treatment as we have earlier accepted for the next two years and makes it permanent. In answer to a point raised by the hon. Lady the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Mrs. Slater) I would remind her and the House that Clause 21 does give power to the Board of Trade to make orders amending the Schedule, subject, of course, to the affirmative Resolution of Parliament. Should there be any widespread abuse of the 6d. milk vending machines it would be possible and probable that the Board of Trade would ask the House to change the arrangements. I hope that that will reassure her that I have not eaten all my words, and I do not ask her to eat the words she uttered in Committee in resisting the original suggestion from my hon. Friend the Member for Maidstone (Mr. J. Wells).
§ Question put and agreed to.
§
Lords Amendment: In page 72, line 31, at end insert:
and nothing in this paragraph shall make unlawful the sale at the express request of the buyer of any mixture of liquids containing any of the liquors aforesaid in a quantity not otherwise permitted by this paragraph.
§ Mr. Denzil FreethI beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said Amendment.
This Amendment was introduced in another place following an undertaking which I gave to the House on Report, namely, that we would so amend the Bill as to enable people who like only a dash of gin with their vermouth to get the drink they want if they expressly express the wish to have that drink and not the normal measure. I hope that the House will accept this Lords Amendment in view of the undertaking which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for St. Albans (Mr. Goodhew).
§ Question put and agreed to.