1922.] 



Questions in Parliament. 



955^ 



QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT. 



Imported Eggs. — Mr. Pretyman asked the Minister of Agriculture 

 whether he will take steps, and if necessary, introduce legislation, to cause- 

 foreign imported eggs to be stamped with the name of the country of origin, 

 and so prevent the injury now suffered by both producers and consumers in- 

 this country where imported eggs are sold as new-laid British ? 



Major Barnston (Coniptroller of the Household) : I have been asked to 

 reply. I understand that the Board of Trade proposes to introduce legislation 

 to give effect to the principal recommendations contained in the report of the 

 Merchandise Marks Committee (Cd. 760 of 1920) with regard to the marking 

 of foreign goods, which include eggs. (November 2, 1921.) 



Ecclesiastical Tithe Rent-charge (Rates) Act.— Mr. Pretyman. 

 asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the present interpretation of the 

 Ecclesiastical Tithe Eent-charge (Rates) Act, that where an incumbent holds 

 two or more benefices in pluralit}- each benefice must be treated as separate 

 for the purposes of the Act, is in accordance with the intentions of the 

 Government in framing the Act ; and, if not, will he introduce a short 

 amending Bill early next session to rectify the error ? 



Major Barnston : I am advised that the interpretation of Section 1 (2) of 

 the Act, as indicated in the question, although correct, does not represent 

 the intention of the Government when framing the Act, and the question 

 of the practicability of submitting to the House an amendment of the Act 

 is under consideration. (Xovember 2, 1921.) 



Summer Time. — Lieut. -Colonel Pownall (by private notice) asked the 

 Secretar}' of State for the Home Department whether any agreement has yet 

 been come to with the French Government for making the period of summer 

 time commence and terminate on the same date in the two countries ? 



The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Shortt) : A 

 Conference has recently been held with representatives of the French and 

 Belgian Governments, and an agreement was reached that the summer time 

 period should commence on the night of the last Saturday in March, or the 

 last Saturday but one in March when the last Saturday is the day preceding- 

 Easter Day, and end on the night of the first Saturday in October, The- 

 Government have carefully considered this proposal, and in view of the serious 

 inconvenience at present caused by the difference between the three countries 

 in the dates of commencing and ending summer time, they have approved the 

 proposal, which corresponds very nearly to the dates which have been fixed in 

 this country, and have informed the French Government that they are prepared 

 to submit to Parliament legislation to give effect to it. It is the intention of 

 the Government to introduce a Bill for this purpose early next Session. I 

 should add that the summer time period in France at present commences on 

 15th March and ends on 25th October, so that the French Government have 

 made very large concessions in their desire to meet us. December 15, 1921.) 



Unfit Horses (Export).— In reply to a question by Mr. A. Herbert 

 regarding the export of hoises. Sir Arthur G. Boscawen (Minister of 

 Agriculture) stated that the Ministry's policy is, in substance, so to administer 

 the Exportation of Horses Acts as to ensure that worn-out or decrepit horses,. 



