§ 2.36 p.m.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are aware that it is alleged that the Japanese are now marking some of their textiles and other goods with the words "Made as in England," and printed in such a way as to give the impression that the goods are made in England, and whether Her Majesty's Government will investigate this and if the truth is established, whether they can take, any steps to discourage this practice.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT: (LORD MANCROFT)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have had a number of reports, affecting wool textiles, but not other goods, that imports from Japan into overseas markets have been received with such phrases as "Made as in England" woven in the selvedges. The United Kingdom wool industry have made representations to the Japanese industry about this and other practices which are inconsistent with the Code of Fair Trading of the International Wool Textile Organisation of which the Japanese industry are members. Her Majesty's Ambassador in Tokyo has also raised the matter with the President of the Federation of Japan Wool Spinners' and Importers' Associations. I understand that, as a result, the responsible organisations of the Japanese 3 wool industry have promised to use their influence to stop these practices and to encourage observance of the Code of Fair Trading. It is as yet too early, however, for the effects to be seen.
I can assure the noble Lord, Lord Lucas of Chilworth, that Her Majesty's Government intend to do everything possible to discourage unfair practices of this kind and are prepared to consider taking up with the Japanese Government any instances of misleading markings of which concrete evidence is produced.
§ LORD LUCAS OF CHILWORTHWill the noble Lord accept my thanks for the fullness of his Answer? As this is a particularly mean practice, the word "as" being of microscopic size, would Her Majesty's Government convey to the Japanese Government that the cause in which many of us are sincerely interested—that is, the rehabilitation of the Japanese economy—is not helped by practices of this kind?
§ LORD MANCROFTI will certainly do that, but I think the Japanese Government are well aware of the sentiments which the noble Lord has just expressed.
§ LORD CALVERLEYMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that prior to 1914 we had the same difficulty from Germany in the worsted woollen industry, and that His Majesty's Government of that day made a regulation that everything coming from Germany had to be marked "Made in Germany." This problem has been outstanding now for some months, and I think the noble Lord, with his energy and wisdom, might take action and tell these people what to do and "where to get off."
§ LORD MANCROFTI sympathise fully with the indignation of the noble Lord. I can assure him that to a very large degree Her Majesty's Government share his feelings.
§ LORD MACPHERSON OF DRUMOCHTERMay I ask the noble Lord whether there is any evidence of the import of textiles marked as described in the Question into this country or into any countries of the British Commonwealth?
§ LORD MANCROFTThere is no actual evidence of textiles of this nature being imported into this country, but the repute and widespread nature of this story 4 makes us feel that it must contain a strong element of truth. At this moment a case is being investigated by Her Majesty's Ambassador in Teheran. The answer to the noble Lord's question, however, is that we have no concrete proof of imports into this country.
§ LORD MACPHERSON OF DRUMOCHTERI was going to suggest that if there were such proof, arrangements might be made to refuse admission for goods marked thus into this country or any country over which we have any control.
§ LORD MANCROFTThat is a slightly different matter, but I will certainly bear in mind what the noble Lord has said.