HC Deb 13 December 1962 vol 669 cc567-8
32. Mr. Stratton Mills

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the practice whereby gramophone record manufacturers sell 12 inch records lasting for less than 20 minutes instead of the normal 25–28 minutes, without giving any indication to the purchaser; and if he will seek powers to ensure that the playing time of a record is printed on the record sleeve.

The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. F. J. Erroll)

As to the first part of the Question, I understand that it is not the usual practice to indicate the length of playing time on the record sleeve. The Answer to the second part is "No, Sir". The length of playing time is only one of many considerations when choosing gramophone records.

Mr. Stratton Mills

By what method can a buyer of a gramophone record discover that the playing time is falsified?

Mr. Erroll

I am not a great buyer of gramophone records, but I am told that at most shops where records are sold facilities are provided for playing records before a purchase is made, so that there would not be the same need as my hon. Friend might think to require the playing time to be stated on the record sleeve.

Mr. Stratton Mills

Is my right hon. Friend suggesting that all record purchasers should time records bought from reputable companies? Will he have a survey made to see how widespread is this practice?

Mr. Erroll

I do not think so. There are many other reasons for buying gramophone records than the actual playing time, including the artistic quality and other factors. The quality of the reproduction inevitably deteriorates a little as the centre of the record is approached, and therefore it might be a better buy to have a record with not such a long playing time. These are factors which I think are familiar to buyers of gramophone records. But if my hon. Friend wishes me to do so, I will look into the matter further.