§ Mr. HIGHAMasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware of the fact that representatives from his Department visit hotels and restaurants in various parts of the country, often in evening dress, and endeavour to catch the proprietors or their servants giving short measure of intoxicating liquors; whether these men are authorised representatives of his Department; if so, how is it that the Food Ministry are dealing with Excise matters; and under what Act of Parliament does the Ministry of Food investigate the measure of intoxicants served on properly licensed premises?
§ Mr. McCURDYDuly authorised inspectors of the Ministry of Food visit hotels and restaurants in the course of their duty in order to test the prices charged for beer and spirits, which are controlled by the Beer (Prices and Description) Order, 1920, and the Spirits (Prices and Description) Order, 1920.1630W These Orders have effect under the Ministry of Food (Continuance) Act, 1920 (10 and 11 Geo. 5, ch. 47). The Food Ministry is not dealing with matters of Excise. The investigation of the measure of intoxicants is for the purpose of determining whether the maximum prices fixed by the Orders are observed, and is made under the above-mentioned Act and Orders.
§ Sir K. FRASERasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that rum and gin can be sold at prices less by one-half than the controlled price, and that many merchants are anxious to sell the same at such reduced prices, but are prevented from so selling owing to the existence of the controlled price; whether, in view of the exodus to America of the bulk of wholesome matured Scotch whiskies for medicinal purposes of the American people, only raw and inferior whiskies are left; and whether, in the interests of public health, he will remove the control over rum and gin, which are more wholesome and less injurious than the whiskies now sold in this country?
§ Mr. McCURDYI am aware that rum and gin can in certain cases be sold at prices lower than the controlled maximum prices, but the fixed prices whether on sales of rum, or gin, or whiskey, are maximum prices only, and so far as my Orders are concerned there is nothing whatever to prevent merchants from selling at prices below such maximum prices. As the hon. and gallant Member has already been informed, I have no evidence that would confirm the suggestion made in the-second part of the question. The third part of the question therefore does not arise.