HC Deb 29 November 1920 vol 135 cc955-6W
Sir F. HALL

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, under the Merchandise Marks Act, imported goods do not require to bear a mark indicating their place of origin unless the Board of Trade makes an Order to that effect; and if, with the object of stimulating industries, his Department will consider the advisability of imposing this condition in the case of all imported goods?

Sir R. HORNE

I am sending my hon. and gallant Friend a copy of a memorandum, from which he will see what are the existing requirements of the Merchandise Marks Act as regards the marking of goods on importation. I hope to introduce as early as possible next Session a measure on the lines of the Report of the Merchandise Marks Committee, who recommended that the Board of Trade should be given power in certain cases to require all imported goods of a specified class to bear an indication of their origin. At present, the Board have no such power.