HC Deb 08 May 1972 vol 836 cc889-90
15. Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce an order to compel manufacturers of chocolate bars and similar confectionery to state the correct weight on such products, where this is less than three ounces.

Mr. Onslow

It would be unrealistic to consider any change in the quantity marking provisions at the present time. This is because of draft EEC directives covering chocolate and sugar confectionery bars which would raise this limit slightly. In the discussions in Brussels, in which the United Kingdom has been participating, officials have had consumer interests very much in mind.

Mrs. Oppenheim

Will my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary accept that in this question I am not so much concerned with aero-space as with space where there should be Aero? Will he not agree that notwithstanding all the EEC regulations the people who purchase smaller units of confectionery are entitled at least to the same limited measures of consumer protection as are afforded to the purchasers of larger units, especially as the former are usually children who in their simplicity believe that a new size means a bigger size, when often it can mean a smaller and dearer size?

Mr. Onslow

I am sure my hon. Friend knows there is a difficulty here. But per-haps she will welcome the information that some manufacturers already declare the weight on smaller bars voluntarily and I expect that, like me, she would like to see the practice followed more widely.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

From the Under-Secretary's original reply, are we to take it that even though this is a very good Question, a matter which should be acted upon, we can do nothing because the Community has decided otherwise and that we must be dictated to by the Common Market even before we join?

Mr. Onslow

I thought the hon. Member had probably given up chocolate and sugar confectionery. He is wrong in his conclusion. There is plenty we can do and particularly we can encourage manufacturers to go voluntarily beyond the limits which are already set by law.