HC Deb 18 December 1958 vol 597 c261W
36. Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to prohibit the use in woollen textile advertising of the phrases, Spun in the Outer Hebrides or elsewhere in Scotland, and, Finished in the Outer Hebrides or elsewhere in Scotland, since the reference to a specific locality, already comprehended within the term, Scotland, misleads purchasers into believing they are buying goods manufactured in the Outer Isles, but which may be made from wool, imported from any part of the world, and spun and finished wholly in places other than the Outer Hebrides; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. J. Rodgers

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "No." The application to goods for sale of false or misleading trade descriptions or as to the place or country in which they were made is an offence under the Merchandise Marks Acts but I should not have thought that the descriptions quoted contravene those Acts.

Mr. Malcolm MacMillan

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the interest of the consumer and the employment of British workers, he will take steps to see that woollen textiles are clearly marked to show whether they are of British materials and manufacture.

Sir D. Eccles

I see no sufficient reason for seeking power to compel manufacturers to mark woollen textiles in this way. Manufacturers of goods made in this country of British materials are free to mark them accordingly if they wish to do so. Imported woven piecegoods of wool are required to bear an indication of origin on importation and imported knitted fabrics of wool to be marked with an indication of origin at the time of sale.