§ 8. Miss Burtonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet reached a decision concerning the disclosure of essential information to the Retail Trading Standards Association so that action may be taken in the case of the manufacturer of rayon-wool knitwear whose utility code number was BHJ and some of whose jumpers have been seen bearing the label "Jay Jay Pure Scotch Wool," thereby contravening the Merchandise Marks Act.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftWithout expressing any opinion on the question whether the Merchandise Marks Act has been contravened, I have decided that I would not be justified in disclosing to a third party information obtained in the course of operation of the Defence Regulations.
§ Miss BurtonWould the right hon. Gentleman agree that, in this case at any rate, the results have been unfortunate? Is not it the duty of the Board of Trade to protect the consumer? Does not the President agree that the association mentioned in the Question has been unable to take proceedings because his Department could not give this information?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe hon. Lady will appreciate that she has raised an important issue of principle, and that information obtained by a Government Department in the exercise of a Defence Regulation should be used exclusively for the purpose of administering that Regulation and not for another purpose. That is the reason for the answer I have given.