§ 42. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he intends to take to ensure that all imported goods are clearly marked with the country of origin.
§ Mr. RidleyUniversal compulsory origin marking is neither necessary or practicable, but I am considering whether our defences against deception regarding origin are adequate.
§ 78. Mr. Wilkinsonasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in the interests of the consumer and manufacturer alike, he will now take measures to continue on a permanent basis present arrangements for origin marking of textile products beyond the end of November, 1971.
§ Mr. RidleyThe Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, does not enable me to take account of the interests of manufacturers. I am considering what would be the most suitable solution to this complicated issue, on the lines indicated in my answer of 19th October to my hon. Friends the Members for Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills) 5W and for Leicester, South West (Mr. Tom Boardman).—[Vol. 823, c. 104–5.]
§ Mr. Redmondasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the large number of applications received by him requesting that an Order should be made to continue origin marking for certain products, he will now indicate what action he proposes to take to meet the requirements of the industries concerned.
§ Mr. RidleyI explained in general approach to this problem in my answer on 19th October to my hon. Friends the Members for Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills) and for Leicester, South-West (Mr. Tom Boardman), to which I would refer my hon. Friend. I am concentrating at this stage on the possibility that we may need stronger general safeguards against the consumer being misled about origin.—[Vol. 823, c.104–5.]