§ MR. KIMBERI to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether all silver plate manufactured in the United Kingdom, whether for home sale or for exportation, must be of the standard quality of 920–1000ths, and every article must be hall-marked; and whether Her Majesty's Government will consider the expediency of so altering the hallmarking laws as to permit silversmiths to manufacture goods without the compulsory obligation of hall-markings, in order to enable them to compete in those markets of the world in which neither the British standard nor the hall-mark are desired?
§ MR. MUNDELLAThe law requires that silver-plate exposed for sale or exported from, or into, this country, should, with certain exceptions, be hallmarked, and should be one of the two standard qualities 959–1000ths and 925–1000ths. I can make no promise as to introduce a Bill for the abolition of compulsory hall-marking. I understand that such a measure would be unacceptable to the great majority of the trade.
§ * MR. J. ROWLANDS (Finsbury, E.)Do I understand the right hon. Gentleman will bring in no Bill to alter the present system without a preliminary inquiry by a Select Committee or some other body?
§ MR. MUNDELLACertainly.