§ LORD BARNBYasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, with regard to the textile industries, the expiry of the requirement of labelling foreign origin textiles (so easily victims of low wage cost imports) does not in effect export to such countries the benefits of the Chancellor's recent employment incentives; whether it is not a fact that established representative consumer bodies regard such labelling as desirable in the interests of consumers; and whether they will now take appropriate steps to re-impose previous marking requirements.
§ LORD DRUMALBYNConsumer opinion is divided on the merits of origin marking of imported textiles, but the Government are not satisfied that quality or other characteristics can reliably be deduced from origin. The Private Member's Bill which has been introduced in another place is intended to deal with fears that foreign goods bearing United Kingdom names or trade marks might mislead shoppers into believing that the goods were made in the United Kingdom. The Government have said that they will support the Bill.