HC Deb 17 June 1954 vol 528 cc2245-6
1. Miss Burton

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many prosecutions his Department has undertaken or initiated, between 1st February and 5th April, 1954, under the Merchandise Marks Acts, in respect of false trade descriptions as to material content of consumer goods, including the advertising of such goods to which false trade descriptions had been applied.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Mr. Henry Strauss)

None, Sir.

Miss Burton

Does the Parliamentary Secretary realise what a very misleading statement he made to the House on 6th May in HANSARD, column 698, when we were discussing these matters, when he told the House that the Board of Trade had initiated prosecutions in 95 cases? Is he aware that the "Drapers Record" took that up and queried it, and that to give the answer now as "None" shows, I suggest, that the previous answer was misleading?

Mr. Strauss

I thought it was clear from the context that I had dealt separately with the question of prosecutions under the Merchandise Marks Acts. I was there referring to prosecutions generally and to a specific answer of my right hon. Friend. The particulars of those prosecutions will be found in the answer given by my right hon. Friend on 8th April, 1954, to the hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton). Let me say, in answer to the hon. Lady, that if anything I said or, rather, omitted to say in that particular sentence caused anyone to misunderstand me, I express my regret to the House.

6. Miss Burton

asked the President of the Board of Trade what decision he has reached concerning the initiation of prosecutions, respectively, against the makers of the Downland Curlew full-size down pillow, and against Arthur Mortimer & Company (Wools), Limited, Bradford, manufacturers of Argyll double knitting wool, labelled as containing wool and nylon.

Mr. H. Strauss

The Board of Trade has commenced proceedings in the first case. No decision has yet been reached in the second case.

Miss Burton

Concerning the second case, is the House to take it that the Board of Trade condones wool labelled "wool and nylon" having only 1.2 per cent. nylon content in the same way as it condones sheepskin gauntlet gloves called "hide"?

Mr. Strauss

The hon. Lady should draw no such conclusion except that in a case which may come before the courts I am not prepared to add to the information already given.