HC Deb 09 February 1970 vol 795 cc269-71W
Miss Devlin

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many notices of intended prosecution under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, lodged with the Board in accordance with the provisions of Section 30 of this Act, have identified the Section of the Act under which the enforcement authority proposes to proceed, and how many have not.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

All such notices identify the section or sections involved.

Miss Devlin

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department maintains files on each case brought, or notified as a potential candidate for prosecution, under the Trade Descriptions Act; and in what ways his Department obtains information on the progress of each case.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

Yes. Further information is obtained by voluntary reports from the notifying authorities on the outcome of each case.

Miss Devlin

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many notices of intended prosecution under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 have been lodged by each enforcement authority, and each group of enforcement authorities acting in concert, during December 1968, during each of the months of 1969 and during January 1970.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

As I have already explained to the hon. Member, such details are not readily available.—[Vol. 493, c. 292.]

Miss Devlin

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total number of notices of intended prosecution under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 received at the end of January 1970; and how these notices were divided between Sections of the Act creating separate offences.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

Notices of proceedings for notifiable offences totalled 1,411, 775 cases related to Section 1, 523 to Section 11, 111 to Section 14, and 2 to Section 42.

Miss Devlin

asked the President of the Board of Trade for what goods his Department has received representations that they should bear compulsory labelling under Section 8 of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968; and what goods have been nominated as candidates for compulsory labelling.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

Footwear; pet foods; clothing (care labelling); clothing (fibre content); sheets; furnishing fabrics; motor tyres; electric light bulbs; fire extinguishers; and smokeless fuel. All but the first three are still under consideration.

Miss Devlin

asked the President of the Board of Trade what orders he proposes to make stipulating the content of classes of advertisement under Section 9 of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968; and what kinds of advertisements are under consideration.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

No such orders are under consideration.

Miss Devlin

asked the President of the Board of Trade what terms used in description of services, accommodation and facilities have been represented to him as candidates for definition under Section 15 of the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968; and what terms are being considered.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

Naturist and certain related terms; taxi; and private hire-car. The last two are receiving preliminary consideration.