§ 25. Mr. PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in the schedule illustrating and explaining the assay marks adopted for use on British and imported plate and jewellery a plain equilateral triangle is substituted for the lion, crown, and anchor marks, which are reserved exclusively for British-made goods, and is placed upon all articles of plate and jewellery imported from abroad; whether he is aware that such differential marking differentiates clearly between British-made and foreign goods of this description, while at the same time not in any way indicating the origin or quality of the goods themselves; and whether he is prepared to introduce legislation amending the Proof Act applicable to firearms, in order to make a similar and clear distinction between goods manufactured abroad and proof-marked in England and those manufactured in this country and also proof-marked in England?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. J. M. Robertson)The marks used by the various Assay Offices for foreign gold and silver plate are, of course, different from those applied to plate manufactured in this country. Each assay office uses a special mark, and the equilateral triangle referred to by the hon. Member is the special mark used in the case of imported plate by the Birmingham Assay Office. In addition to this special mark, imported plate is required to be marked with an indication of 1339 its quality as determined by assay. The matter raised in the last part of the question is now receiving my careful consideration, and I hope shortly to be able to announce a decision.