HC Deb 11 July 1939 vol 349 cc2044-5
41. Sir Cyril Entwistle

asked the President of the Board of Trade the amount, both in value and yardage, of the rayon tissues, in the loom state and in the bleached state, of foreign origin which during the years 1937 and 1938 and the first three months of 1939, entered the United Kingdom for process and subsequent re-exportation either duty free by arrangement or of imports for this purpose on which drawback is claimed; and whether he is aware that these fabrics after processing in England are being exported as British fabrics?

Mr. Stanley

I regret that statistics of the kind asked for in the first part of the question are not maintained and could not be compiled without disproportionate labour and expense. As regards the last part of the question, the courts alone are able to say whether the application of the description "British made" or "Made in England" to imported fabrics processed in this country is a false trade description within the meaning of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887. I am, however, prepared to institute proceedings in any case in which there is sufficient evidence to suggest a false description, and the question of obtaining the necessary evidence through the operation of Section 13 of the Import Duties Act or of the drawback system is being considered.

Sir C. Entwistle

Arising out of the first part of that answer, may I ask my right hon. Friend whether he is aware that the Manchester Chamber of Commerce regard the obtaining of this information as a matter of importance? As the data is in the hands of the Customs and Excise, and drawback has to be claimed within six months, would he consider whether it is possible to obtain the information?

Mr. Stanley

I have gone into the matter, and I can tell my hon. and learned Friend that I do not think the information could be obtained without a quite disproportionate amount of labour and expense. It seems to me that the more important part of my answer is the second part, which deals with the possibility of checking this practice by means of prosecution.

Sir Nairne Stewart Sandeman

Is my right hon. Friend thinking of going right through the Merchandise Marks Act with the idea of bringing in further legislation?

Mr. Stanley

It does not need any amendment whatever. It is a matter of getting sufficient evidence to prove that there has been a breach.