HC Deb 13 March 1952 vol 497 cc1550-2
21. Mr. Austen Albu

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider introducing legislation to ensure that mattresses and upholstered furniture carry marks or labels stating the nature of the filling material used in their manufacture.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I am considering most carefully the best means to ensure that the public can identify good quality mattresses and furniture, but I am not convinced that legislation of the kind suggested by the hon. Member is the best means of achieving this.

Mr. Albu

Does not the President think that it is necessary that the public should be aware that much of the filling material in mattresses is not new, but second-hand rag flock material?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I certainly think that arrangements are necessary to safeguard the production of reasonable quality in the case of mattresses, but I am not satisfied that the precise method suggested by the hon. Member is necessarily the best one.

28. Colonel Alan Gomme-Duncan

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the serious effect on the public in Scotland, and on the retail furniture trade there, as a result of the high and inequitable freight charges imposed by the British Transport Commission on furniture carried from the manufacturers in the South of England to Scotland; and if he will make representations to the Transport Commission with a view to remedying this.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I am aware that these charges have been increased. The Transport Act, 1947, provides opportunities for the making of representations about charges through the Transport Users' Consultative Committees, and I suggest that the matter should be pursued through those channels.

Colonel Gomme-Duncan

As efforts have already been made to represent these difficulties, will the Minister give further consideration to the question that he should exert a little pressure in the interests of the retail furniture trade in Scotland?

Mr. Thorneycroft

To start with, I think we might try the usual channels and the consultative committee once more.

Mr. A. C. Manuel

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the furniture industry in Scotland is world famous and that in my constituency there are certain factories whose products are well known; and presently, when we have unemployment, will the right hon. Gentleman refuse to aid the importation into Scotland of shabby furniture, which would make the unemployment there even greater?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I do not think we can keep transport charges specially high in order to prevent all furniture from entering Scotland.

Mr. W. W. Astor

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the furniture trade have made representations through the proper channels and that they have got no answer at all? Will he expedite consideration of the matter?

32. Mr. Sparks

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his present policy with regard to the furniture and bedding Utility schemes.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I would ask the hon. Member to await the statement on this subject which I hope to make in the course of the debate today.