HC Deb 14 June 1951 vol 488 cc2489-90
16. Mr. Burden

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints his Department has received since 1st January, 1951, that utility merchandise has not complied with minimum requirements laid down as utility specifications; and in how many of these cases his Department has instituted prosecutions.

Sir H. Shawcross

The time and labour involved in extracting this information from the correspondence which my Department receives about utility goods would not, in my opinion, be justified, but if the hon. Member has any particular case or class of merchandise in mind I will gladly look into it further. I can say, however, that the total volume of complaint is relatively small. No proceedings have yet been instituted as a result of complaints received since 1st January, 1951.

Mr. Burden

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that there is growing disquiet at the fact that the utility specifications are not in many cases being kept, and will he assure the House that his Department is keeping a very close eye on this in the interests of the public?

Sir H. Shawcross

Yes, Sir. I certainly think that it is of the utmost importance that the utility specifications should be fully maintained, and I rely on the support of the various sections of British industry concerned to see that they are maintained. I do not think that this support is always best obtained by prosecution, but I shall certainly take adequate steps to ensure that, as I hope, they play the game.

Mr. Osborne

Does the right hon. and learned Gentleman agree that the overwhelming majority of British manufacturers who produce utility goods have played the game with him, and have kept to the specification requirements?

Sir H. Shawcross

Yes, Sir. I think that the utility scheme in general has been a great success. There have been a few exceptional cases where specifications have been departed from, but I would certainly pay tribute to the way in which, in general, the scheme has been operated.