§ 35. Mr. Roebuckasked the President of the Board of Trade how many prosecutions there have been for serving beer in short measures under the Weights and Measures Act, 1963.
§ Mrs. Gwyneth DunwoodyProsecutions are the responsibility of local weights and measures authorities. Their reports for the year 1967–68—the last for which complete information is available—show that there was one prosecution for serving beer in short measure during the year. It was successful.
§ Mr. RoebuckDoes not that Answer show that the law is not being adequately enforced? Is my hon. Friend aware 423 that when beer is in good condition it is almost impossible to get a pint into an ordinary pint pot? Is he further aware that a collar of a quarter of an inch represents an extra 2 per cent. on the brewers' profits and that it is out of that 2 per cent. that the brewers are subsidising the Conservative Party? Will she stop this abuse?
§ Mrs. DunwoodyIf the brewers are subsidising the Conservative Party they are not getting much for their money. If my hon. Friend is worried about this matter he might like to use his hon. Friends as inspectors to carry out a series of controlled tests.
§ Sir A. V. HarveyWould it not be more appropriate if the hon. Lady applied herself to the fact that as a result of inflation under this Government beer is shortly to go up in price by 2d. a pint?
§ Mrs. DunwoodyI do not have the strong emotional involvement in beer which some hon. Members appear to have. It seems to me that this legislation is doing a very good job for the consumer in general.