§ 4. Miss Burtonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the disquiet among the shopping public, and reputable manufacturers, at the lack of quality guarantees for merchandise; and if, where trade or industry refuse to provide such standard quality marks, the Government will authorise the British Standards Institution to issue such quality marks itself.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI am in favour of the wider adoption of standards and quality marks, but I cannot believe this would be achieved by issuing such marks without the co-operation of the manufacturers concerned.
§ Miss BurtonWhat does the right hon. Gentleman propose to do about the guarantees which he gave to this House as long ago as 1952? Is he aware that these guarantees, from the rayon and cotton industries, were that standards 1039 would be provided, that these standards have not been provided, and that the right hon. Gentleman has done nothing about it?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftAs the hon. Lady knows, I am not altogether satisfied with the progress of the introduction of standard marks in the industry, but I am satisfied that we are adopting the right procedure through the British Standards Institution.
§ Miss BurtonWhat consolation is it to the consumers to know that the right hon. Gentleman is not satisfied if he does nothing about it?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftThe consumers of this country at the present time have a very wide choice of high-quality goods.