HC Deb 07 February 1977 vol 925 c1032
6. Mr. Madden

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what powers are available to his Department to stop goods, manufactured overseas, from being distributed nationally and internationally under United Kingdom trade marks or labels.

The Minister of State, Department of Prices and Consumer Protection (Mr. John Fraser)

The Trade Descriptions Act 1972 prohibits the supply of imported goods bearing any United Kingdom name or mark, unless accompanied by a conspicuous indication of the country of manufacture, and the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 prohibits the importation and supply of goods bearing a false indication of origin.

Mr. Madden

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the apparent ease with which overseas manufacturing interessts can obtain and use British labels to distribute imports presents a new and sinister threat to the British economy, which could threaten the jobs of thousands of British workers if the loophole is not quickly blocked by the Government?

Mr. Fraser

I can understand my hon. Friend's concern about certain constituency matters. The question of the takeover of firms in this country by Foreign enterprises is primarily a matter for the Secretary of State for Industry.