§ 8. Mr. David Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will seek to make it a legal obligation to show quantity marking on bottles of sherry and other fortified wines.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection (Mr. Robert Maclennan)My right hon. Friend intends to do so as soon as we change 12 over in this country from the "minimum" contents system to the "average" system.
§ Mr. WatkinsI am grateful for that information. Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a growing practice of reducing both the amount in the bottle and the alcoholic content? Do not these practices constitute disguised price increases from which the disguises ought to be removed?
§ Mr. MaclennanThere is a number of problems related to that matter which are being considered by the Working Party on Metrological Systems Control which will be reporting shortly.