asked the Minister of Food whether it is now obligatory to indent on the tin of all canned goods the country of packing; and whether, in view of the large quantity of canned goods now being stored in this country as food reserves, he will take steps to make it obligatory to indent upon the tin, in a manner easily read by the public, the date of packing, so as to protect the public from dangerously old goods and also similarly to indent the packer's name?

The answer to both parts of the Question is in the negative.

Is not my hon. Friend aware that the date of packing and the nature of the goods are already marked on the can in a secret code, and is there any reason why the public should not have this information for its protection?

I will send my hon. Friend a copy of the Merchandise Marks Act, in which the obligations upon importers are clearly denned, and to which any change would require legislation.

Will the Minister see that the standards of margarine are clearly marked?