HC Deb 16 November 1920 vol 134 cc1718-9W
Mr. HAYDAY

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether large quantities of baskets and of cane and willow furniture are being imported into this country from Germany, Holland, Denmark, and France, and numbers of these articles sold as English manufacture; and whether he will have inquiries made into the matter?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

Certain quantities of baskets and basketware are being imported from Germany, Holland, and France; but the total imports of these articles into this country are probably not in excess of the pre-war imports. As regards the second part of the question, the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, prohibits the sale in this country of goods to which a false trade description within the meaning of the Act is applied, and if the hon. Member can furnish particulars of cases in which such imported basketware has been marked as English and sold under that description, I shall be happy to consider the possibility of instituting a prosecution under the Act.