HC Deb 27 January 1955 vol 536 cc400-2
10. Mrs. Mann

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the generally deteriorating standards of furniture; and what steps he is taking to prevent manufacturers exploiting the public.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

No, Sir. The manufacturers of British furniture and the men and women who work in that industry are doing a good job and there is no question of their exploiting the public.

Hon. Members

Hear, hear.

Mrs. Mann

I think the hon. Gentlemen opposite have cried "Hear, hear" a bit too soon. Does the right hon. Gentleman consider that this is a good job? Here are several photographs of tables supplied by my hon. Friend the Member for Dumbartonshire, East (Mr. Bence) showing gross shoddiness in table legs, which are splitting in two?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Lady cannot make a speech about it.

Mrs. Mann

I consider the reply of the right hon. Gentleman exceedingly unsatisfactory, and I ask him to consider bringing back the Utility scheme that we had when his predecessor was in office.

Mr. John Hall

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are two ways in which the general public can ensure that they are sold good-quality and well-designed furniture, the first being that the consumer ensures he buys from a reputable retailer, and the second being for the retailer to ensure that he buys from Wycombe manufacturers.

Mr. H. Wilson

In view of the complacent answer given by the right hon. Gentleman this afternoon, may I ask him to consider the point put by my hon. Friend as to whether there is anything that this Government or any other Government can do to give more protection to the consumer than by a revived Utility scheme for furniture?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I should have thought that, without particularising a locality, that the advice given by my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall) is very sound, that is, to purchase from reputable retailers. In addition to that, it is true to say that roughly one-half to two-thirds of the United Kingdom furniture is made by firms which are licensed to use the B.S.I. Kite mark.

Mr. Bence

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this particular case was brought to my notice because the management of a firm were very concerned about their workers being unhappy and morose? The reason for it, as stated by the management, was that they had heavy hire-purchase commitments for furniture bought from a reasonably reputable house, and the state of the furniture is shown by these photographs. It could not be detected until the furniture was stripped down. These photographs show a shocking standard of workmanship, and such a shocking standard of workmanship is not good for the trade. Will the right hon. Gentleman do something about it?

Mr. Thorneycroft

I do not think that any useful purpose can be served by selecting one instance of bad furniture and then attacking the whole furniture trade. I think that the men and women working in this trade are doing a good job.