§ 27. Mr. Nobleasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will consult members of the footwear industry with a view to establishing minimum standards of children's footwear, to which both British and imported foreign children's footwear must conform.
Mr. Alan WilliamsI understand that the British Standards Institute has already consulted a section of the trade about the need to revise the British Standard on children's footwear. I also understand that the Director General of Fair Trading has met representatives of the manufacturing and retail footwear industry and that these discussions are still proceeding with a view to establishing a voluntary code of practice. Such a code could incorporate among other things accepted minimum standards of such things as durability.
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§ Mr. David Youngasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will take steps designed to improve shoe retailers' knowledge of the rights of their customers to complain about shoddy footwear; and if she will make a statement.
Mr. Alan WilliamsCopies of a new leaflet issued by my Department, "Changes in the law relating to the sale of goods—retailers' guide", have been made available to the trade associations concerned for distribution to their members. In our general publicity for the leaflet we have also made plain that retailers themselves can ask their trade association or local trading standards office for copies. We are hoping to back up these efforts by arranging for trading standards officers to leave copies of the leaflet in all the shops they visit in the course of their duties.