HL Deb 13 October 1980 vol 413 cc843-4

2.55 p.m.

Lord CROOK

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps are in contemplation to deal with the dangerous import—mainly from Taiwan—of fake car parts marked as being Ferodo, Ford, Girling, Lockheed and Lucas, claimed to be "cancelled export orders" or "bankrupt stock".

Lord LYELL

My Lords, my right honourable friend, the Minister of Transport has no evidence so far that accidents have been caused by such imports but he is very much concerned about their possible dangers to the public. His department has approached a number of companies whose products have been counterfeited and he would be grateful to know of any other evidence available to the noble Lord. If cases of real risk to the public are substantiated, he will issue warnings to the public or take other appropriate action under the relevant legislation. My right honourable friend will of course work closely with my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Trade, who has the overall responsibility for the trading aspects of the problem.

Lord CROOK

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that Answer, may I ask whether he will go to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, whose information this is, in order that the Government may be better informed?

Lord LYELL

My Lords, I would hope that RoSPA would be in close touch with the department and I had understood that relations and communications between RoSPA and the department were very good. My right honourable friend and the department will approach RoSPA with a view to resolving this problem and obtaining any other information.

Lord NUGENT of GUILDFORD

My Lords, as deputy president of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents who is about to become president this week, may I ask whether my noble friend is aware that I have taken note of what has been said and will make sure that we act on it?

Lord LYELL

My Lords, I will accept that assurance willingly on behalf of my right honourable friend.