§ 5. Miss Burtonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that trade and industry are concerned at the delay in making public the standards agreed by the British Standards Institution on the description of fibre content of wool cloths; that the effective working of the Merchandise Marks Act is hampered by such delay; and if he will therefore make a statement on the position before the House rises for the summer Recess.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI understand from the British Standards Institution that there has been no avoidable delay in arranging publication of these standards, which have only recently been agreed.
§ Miss BurtonThat really is no answer. Is the President aware that this information is shortly to be made public, and would he not agree that it would be advisable that it should be made public through the House? Can the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my Question?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI should perhaps make it plain that I cannot accept the responsibility of answering for the day-to-day conduct of affairs by this Institution.