§ Mrs. LiddellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many cases have been successfully prosecuted in Scotland since 1990 with regard to offences in relation to the food labelling legislation; and what has been the average fine in such cases. [28284]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe information requested is not separately identifiable within the Scottish Office Home and Health Department's classification of crimes and offences.
§ Mrs. LiddellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to introduce legislation which will make it an offence to sell food after the best-before date relating to it. [28290]
§ Sir Hector MonroBest-before dates do not relate to the safety of food but indicate how long the quality of the food can reasonably be expected to be retained. My right hon. Friend does not believe that there is any need to change the existing provisions prohibiting the sale of food which is not of the nature, substance or quality demanded by the purchaser or where the use-by date has expired.