§ Mr. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will implement, as soon as possible for textiles and clothing products, the recommendations on origin labelling in the National Consumer Council's report "Country of Origin" which has been recently published; if he will introduce legislation which forbids the retailing of any textile or clothing goods which do not have labels permanently attached showing the country of manufacture; and what his 524W the light of the huge losses at sea and recent accidents at Sullom Voe and Brighton, with the safety regulations and standards of navigation at present in force for ships in British waters; and, if not, what steps he proposes to improve such standards.
§ Mr. EyreMy Department keeps all these matters under constant review and is working within the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation to obtain continuing improvements in international standards.
Officials of my Department will be meeting the Shetland Island council next month to consider whether further action is needed in the light of the recent accidents at Sullom Voe.