§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the increasing incidence of inadequate quantities of fruit being packed in cans of fruit; if he will take steps to compel the packers to give the drained weight of fruit in each can; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HoyI am not aware of any evidence of the increasing incidence to which my hon. Friend refers. General protection is given to purchasers by Sections 2 and 6 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955. The food and drugs authorities have negotiated a Code of Practice with the Fruit and Vegetable Canners' Association of Great Britain which has been approved by the Institute of Weights and Measures Administration and which includes provisions dealing with the minimum filled weight of prepared fruit or vegetables in the can. The Weights and Measures Act, 1963, would enable my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to require the marking of drained weights, but neither of 105W my right hon. Friends considers that such a requirement would be justified at present.