HC Deb 15 February 1955 vol 537 cc172-3
18. Miss Burton

asked the President of the Board of Trade why foreign manufacturers of men's woven shirts are allowed to import these into this country without any mark of origin, whereas women's woven garments and men's knitted shirts have to be marked with the country of origin.

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

Orders in Council—

Mr. Callaghan

No aircraft; no rifles.

Mr. Speaker

Order. I would point out to the House that we are now dealing with the subject of men's woven shirts.

Mr. Strauss

Orders in Council have been made under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, requiring imported women's woven outerwear and men's knitted shirts to be marked with an indication of origin. No such order has been made in respect of imported men's woven shirts because there has been no recommendation for such an order from the appropriate Standing Committee appointed under the Act.

Miss Burton

Does not the Parliamentary Secretary think that it would be a good thing if the Board of Trade were to do something without first having to be prodded by the Opposition? Will not he take steps to recommend that men's woven shirts are thus designated, in view of the increasing exports from the Far East?

Mr. Strauss

I would recommend the hon. Lady to look at the terms of Section 2 (3) of the Act. She will find that the Board of Trade has no power to refer this matter to the Committee until an application is made to it to do so. If an application is made, we shall take the necessary steps.

Mr. Follick

On a point of order. Would I be in order to point out a grammatical mistake in the Minister's supplementary reply?

Mr. Gaitskell

Can the Parliamentary Secretary explain the reason for this extraordinary discrimination between the sexes?

Mr. Strauss

I have explained that no application has been made to the Board of Trade to refer this matter to the Committee. If the right hon. Gentleman will look at the Section of the Act to which I have referred, he will see that a request has to be made. He can make as good a guess as I why no such request has been made.