§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, in the light of the fact that a large number of shops in the United Kingdom describe themselves as watchmakers and jewellers when they are not watchmakers but watch repairers, whether he will take steps to see that such shops are correctly described and their signs correctly written.
§ Mr. John FraserIt is already an offence under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 for a person in the course of a trade or business knowingly or recklessly to make certain kinds of false statements about the provision of any service, including the nature of a service. Local weights and measures authorities have a statutory duty to enforce the Act and the necessary powers of investigation. If my hon. Friend considers that particular shop signs falsely describe the services advertised he should bring the matter to the attention of the local authority or authorities concerned.