§ 29. Mr. Longdenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now considered the representations submitted by the various interests concerned in respect of the 72 recommendations made in the Report of the Food Standards Committee, published in September, 1964, reviewing the provisions of the Labelling of Food Order, 1953; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HoyWe are still dealing with the very large number of representations made on the Committee's Report and having discussions with the interested organisations as a preliminary to formulating proposals for new labelling regulations.
§ Mr. LongdenCannot the Government expedite this matter? We have been waiting an inordinate time. The Committee was originally set up in 1947, and the consumer is still waiting for the protection which descriptive labelling could give him. Cannot the matter be expedited?
§ Mr. HoyI cannot accept responsibility for all the intervening years. The Report was not published until the end of September, 1964. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that we have then to give the parties concerned six months to consider what is to happen. When we 1583 receive representations, we have then to consider them, and, even after proposals are made, we have to issue these to the parties concerned before legislation can be introduced.