§ 35. Mr. Jannerasked the President of the Board of Trade how many firms have been fined for offences under the Merchandise Marks Act in connection with advertising goods wrongly described; whether he is satisfied that all such cases are brought before the courts; and whether he will now consider requiring manufacturers compulsorily to label all goods, especially textiles.
Mr. P. ThomeycroftThree firms have been fined this year as a result of prosecutions brought by the Board of Trade. Every suspected infringement that is brought to the notice of my Department is investigated, and proceedings are started whenever it is considered that such action should be taken. I am not prepared to extend compulsory labelling to the general range of consumer goods.
§ Mr. JannerBut is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these actions are not really a deterrent, and that quite recently, within the last ten days, a firm was convicted for selling plastic shoes as suede and, I think, as snake leather? This is very serious, and does not the right hon. Gentleman think that if manufacturers were compelled to put labels on 369 their goods, that would assist the honest trader and stop the dishonest one?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftWe have had many debates in this House on this subject of the compulsory labelling of consumer goods. On other occasions I have explained my objections to introducing compulsory labelling on that scale.