§ 28. Miss Burtonasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement giving details of the machinery in his Department for the initiation of prosecutions under the Merchandise Marks Acts and, as shoppers are not clear as to the scope of his Department in such matters, if he is now prepared to act for the general public where complaints of worthless merchandise are concerned.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI have no statutory responsibility for determining the worth of any particular merchandise. Arrangements are made by my Prosecutions Branch to investigate complaints of alleged offences against the Merchandise Marks Acts. Proceedings are then instituted where warranted by the evidence disclosed.
§ Miss BurtonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the public is getting rather tired of this type of answer from him? Will he please give a straight answer to a straight question? Will he tell the House whether, if somebody buys some goods in a shop and those goods 1055 are worthless, and the shop refuses to do anything about it and that complaint is sent to the Board of Trade, he is prepared to take it up?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI have emphasised quite clearly that the Board of Trade is not established to determine the worth or value of individual merchandise. On the question of the Merchandise Marks Acts, between July, 1945, and October, 1951, there were two prosecutions, both successful. Between 10th October, 1951, and 21st February, 1955, there have been no fewer than 19, of which 16 were successful.
§ Miss BurtonOwing to the very unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment as soon as possible.