§ Mr. Erringtonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that his present powers are sufficient to require that all foreign goods should be marked with the name of the country of origin instead of merely the word foreign; and, if not, whether he will introduce legislation to make marking with the name of the country of origin compulsory?
§ Mr. CrossNo, Sir. The question whether a definite indication of the country of origin should be required was fully considered during the passage through Parliament of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, and in view of the wide divergence of opinion on the matter among industrial and commercial interests provision was made in the Act for an option. If, how ever, my right hon. Friend were satisfied that there is now a really substantial body922W of opinion in favour of a change in the law, he would be prepared to give fresh consideration to this question.