HC Deb 20 November 1956 vol 560 cc1546-7
43. Captain Duncan

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to repeal the Fabrics (Misdescription) Act, 1913, which has the effect of discouraging manufacturers from developing non-inflammable textile materials, and introduce new legislation to encourage them to do so in co-operation with the British Standards Institution.

Mr. Erroll

My right hon. Friend agrees that the provisions of this Act may need re-examination by the light of modern conditions, but he would prefer to await the results of the current consideration of textile flammability by the Committee of the British Standards Institution before reaching any conclusion on the point.

Captain Duncan

May I ask my hon. Friend when the conclusions of that Committee will be reached, and when he can get on with this matter?

Mr. Erroll

The Institution is making a very wide investigation, and I am sorry that I cannot give the information which my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for South Angus (Captain Duncan) requests.