HC Deb 18 January 1971 vol 809 c498
12. Mr. Raphael Tuck

asked the Secretary of state for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to compel importers of goods into Great Britain to affix labels thereon stating the specific country of origin.

Mr. Anthony Grant

My right hon. Friend already has power to require goods to be marked with information about their origin, with information about their origin, under the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968.

Mr. Tuck

But they are not. Is the Minister aware that people like myself who refuse to have anything South African in the are in a quandary, because when we see the word "Foreign" on goods we do not know whether the goods are from South Africa? Perhaps he can give some advice on that point.

Mr. Grant

The advice I can give to the hon. Gentleman is that;under the Trade Descriptions Act he is entitled to ask the shopkeeper the origin of his wares, and if he is given an incorrect answer the shopkeeper can be prosecuted for misdescription.