HC Deb 07 March 1961 vol 636 cc238-9
22. Mr. Darling

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will examine the institutions that issue warranty labels and seals of approval for consumer goods and services to see whether legislation ought to be introduced in order to restrict the issuing of such labels, warrants and seals to approved institutions.

Mr. N. Macpherson

The Committee on Consumer Protection has announced its intention of considering the case for regulation of markings implying test, guarantee or approval, and my right hon. Friend proposes to await the Committee's recommendations.

Mr. Darling

As this Committee will not report for some time—in fact its report looks like being very much delayed, for some reason which we cannot go into—cannot action be taken now to find out what the situation is? My Question merely asks the hon. Gentleman's Department to collect facts and information. That would not be too big a job. We could then see whether legislation is needed.

Mr. Macpherson

My right hon. Friend has considered this, but he is of the opinion that it is essential to await the Committee's findings, because it would be quite impracticable anyway to take action while the Committee is still sitting.