§ 30. Mr. Jannerasked the President of the Board of Trade how many goods are so far entitled to bear the new Kite mark, the symbol of their quality of the British Standards Institution.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI assume that the hon. Member is referring to goods formerly included in the Utility scheme. In this field the Kite mark of the British Standards Institution can now be applied to domestic bedding and will soon, I hope, apply to safety boots and shoes for miners and other industrial workers, and woollen berets. Preparations are also being made as rapidly as possible to apply the mark to a wide variety of textile goods. In addition, the Kite mark already applies to a number of commodities outside the former Utility scheme.
§ Mr. JannerIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a considerable amount of dissatisfaction about certain standards of commodities replacing those which were under the Utility scheme? In view of the fact that as far back as 2096 13th March he said that standards would be imposed, will he see that this matter is speeded up so that people may get the right quality of goods?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI think the general standard of goods in the shops is very high. Dealing with the application of the British standards mark, that work is proceeding on a voluntary basis and as fast as possible.