§ Mr. ChapmanTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he will make a statement about the labelling of furs.
§ Mr. Alan ClarkI refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Sir E. Griffiths) on 20 June, at columns404–405, in which I indicated that, because of legal difficulties which had been raised, it would not be possible to proceed with the proposed Fur Marking Order in the way originally envisaged. I understand, however, that the European Commission is considering action on this subject. Commissioner Clinton Davis announced on 5 July that it was looking carefully at the idea that furs imported into Europe should bear labels indicating whether those who trapped the animals used leg-hold traps.