HC Deb 06 December 1971 vol 827 cc914-5
7. Miss J. Fookes

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will include in the proposed Bill extending consumer protection, provisions standardising the weights of packaged goods, especially foodstuffs and toilet requisites.

Mr. John Davies

I already have powers, under the Weights and Measures Act, 1963, to require prepackaged goods to be sold in standardised prescribed quantities. A wide range of foodstuffs has to be sold in this way and I can extend the control to cover other foodstuffs, or other goods such as toilet requisites, if it should seem to me to be desirable and practicable to do so.

Miss Fookes

May I illustrate the point? I have two bottles of shampoo. Can my right hon. Friend tell me, off the cuff, whether this bottle at 12p for 45 grammes would be better value in terms of money than this bottle at 15p for 67 c.c.?

Mr. Davies

The odour seems to have a part to play in this.

Forward to