§
Clause 14, page 15, line 35, at end insert—
("A certificate of the Minister that tie requirements of this subsection have been complied with in relation to any proceedings shall be conclusive evidence that they have been complied with in relation thereto; and any document purporting to be such a certificate as aforesaid and to be signed by or on behalf of the Minister shall be deemed to be such a certificate, unless the contrary is shown.")
§ VISCOUNT WOOLTONMy Lords, under subsection (5) of Clause 14, proceedings cannot be instituted by a council for labelling offences unless they have given the Minister of Food fourteen days' notice of their intention together with a summary of the facts on which the charges were founded. This notice and summary of the facts are meant for the information of the Minister to enable him to advise authorities or, in the case of products with a national distribution, to take action himself: they are not meant for the court in which proceedings are to take place. This Amendment provides that if the prosecuting authority produces a certificate from the Minister this will be conclusive proof that the notice and the summary were sent as required. In this way, the defence will not be able to invalidate the proceedings by questioning the summary. I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(Viscount Woolton.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.