§ 22. Sir G. de Freitasasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made, with the assistance of his Department, in obtaining international acceptance of the Mondo Point system of shoe sizing.
§ Mr. RidleyAgreement has been reached on some details and member countries of the International Standards Organisation are continuing their studies of others in preparation for the committee's next meeting in November, 1972.
§ Sir G. de FreitasWill the Government press on with this, recognising that it is not only an important matter for my constituents but that people everywhere who wear shoes will benefit from standardisation of sizes and that we in this country stand to gain in the long run from the export trade?
§ Mr. RidleyI agree about the desirability of getting this matter finished, but international agreement requires agreement by our international partners and the matter is not in the hands of the Government but of the British Standards Institution, which is doing its utmost to carry it forward.
§ Mr. FryDoes my hon. Friend realise that if the imports of leather and footwear, mainly from under-developed countries, continue to increase as they have done recently, it will be necessary for his Department to give rather greater assistance to the British footwear industry, a loyal and strike-free industry, than simply advice on shoes sizes?
§ Mr. RidleyThat is a separate question. We shall certainly keep our eye on the situation as it develops.