§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue guidance to magistrates advising them that, where clothing is seized by the police and is found to bear counterfeit brand names, it should not be destroyed but made available for charitable purposes.
§ Mr. MellorNo. Where an application is made to a magistrates' court under the Police (Property) Act 1897 regarding property whose owner cannot be ascertained it is within the court's discretion, taking account of all the circumstances, to determine what is to be done with it. It would not be appropriate for my right hon. and learned Friend to seek to influence magistrates in their exercise of that discretion.