§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will continue to allow, after 1 January 1980 and onwards, the labels on bottles of whisky, gin and other spirits, bottled in the United Kingdom for sale within the United Kingdom, to show the alcoholic strength of the contents in the traditional form of degrees proof, in addition to the new compulsory EEC format of percentage of alcohol by volume.
§ Mr. John SilkinI am advised that the existing methods of declaration will be permissible after 1 January 1980 in addition to the method prescribed in EEC Directive 76/766. However, I shall be discussing the declaration of alcoholic strength with industry representatives later this year when my Department issue proposals for amending the labelling of food regulations.