§ 11. Miss Burtonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the exaggerated claims which are being made that flat-finish cotton fabrics require no ironing; and what steps he proposes to take under Section 2 (1) (d) reference Section 3 (1) (a) (b) of the Merchandise Marks Acts to ensure that these claims are stopped.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI am aware of the claim that certain cotton fabrics do not require ironing. I have no evidence that this claim is unjustified, but if the hon. Member will let me have any such evidence, I shall be glad to consider it.
§ Miss BurtonI shall be delighted to do so, but may I ask the right hon. Gentleman, as a preliminary, whether his office has called his attention to a statement made by the President of the Textile Finishing Trades Association in "Men's Wear" of 22nd October that there is a tendency nowadays to exaggerate claims for particular fabrics? What is the use of having a Merchandise Marks Act, which allows action to be taken in the case of false claims, if the right hon. Gentleman has not the slightest intention of using it?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI have no evidence that these claims are unjustified. When we find that the cotton industry, which is fighting considerable odds, is developing new forms of fabrics and processing, it deserves all the support it can get.