§ Mr. John Evansasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation making it compulsory for the gravity of draught beers to be displayed on the pumps and bottled beers to be printed on the labels.
§ Mr. StrangThe Food Standards Committee is at present carrying out a full review of the composition and labelling of beer. The need for legislation will be considered in the light of the committee's report and representations made about its recommendations.
§ Mr. John Evansasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has on the gravity of the draught beers produced by breweries in the United Kingdom over the last five years; and if he will publish it in the Official Report.
§ Mr. StrangInformation on the original gravity of draught beers produced by breweries in the United Kingdom is not collected by my Department. The average original gravity of all beer brewed in the United Kingdom as published in the Annual Report of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise for the year ended 31st March 1974 is as follows:
Year ending 31st March Average gravity 1970 … … … … 1036.94 1971 … … … … 1036.87 1972 … … … … 1036.88 1973 … … … … 1036.99 1974 … … … … 1037.14