HC Deb 21 November 1977 vol 939 cc1092-3
41. Mr. Critchley

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps to improve the labelling of bottles of wine sold by the Refreshment Department in order to describe more accurately their contents.

Dr. Reginald Bennett

I have been asked to reply.

Wines are sold as labelled on purchase. House wines must have an approved label, with information up to EEC standards.

Mr. Critchley

Is the Chairman of the Kitchen Committee aware that the bottle in question, for sale at £1.45, was labelled in large letters of gold "Fine Old Claret", that it was neither fine nor old and that I suspect it was not claret? Is he also aware that hon. Members on all sides of the House are extremely pleased that this kind of bottle has now been withdrawn from sale in the House?

Dr. Bennett

That label was one that, as it were, got through the net. It was rejected on arrival and the wine has now been re-labelled. I am sure my hon. Friend will be greatly relieved that it does not claim to be finer or older than one can usually get for £1.45, but it is, I can assure him, a Bordeauxappellation contrôlée. Indeed, I have here a copy of theacquit vert, the certificate of origin, in case my hon. Friend would like to inspect it. The wine is generally thought to be good enough, because we certainly had some great competition in selecting it.

Mr. Pavitt

Will the hon. Gentleman give information about the content and quantity for the benefit of those of us who buy wine, either red or white, by the carafe? In spite of what theSunday Times says, I do not know very much about wines—I usually drink red and not white. It would be very helpful to hon. Members if we knew what we were buying and just what the quantity was in a carafe.

Dr. Bennett

The carafe has hitherto been five-sixths of a bottle, but the EEC regulations have now somewhat changed that. A bottle is 70 centilitres. I believe that a carafe is 60 centilitres and a half-carafe 40 centilitres, which makes matters even more difficult, but I shall have this information printed on the wine lists