§ Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will make a statement about the implementation of the international convention on the control and marking of articles of precious metals.
§ Mr. John FraserThe Government ratified the convention on 1st April 1976. I have accordingly made an Order under the Hallmarking Act 1973, implementing its provisions on 1st June 1976. From that date articles bearing convention marks applied by assay offices in Austria, Finland, Switzerland and Sweden can be described as being made of gold, silver or platinum, without undergoing further hallmarking in the United Kingdom. Those countries will give similar treatment to articles bearing similar marks applied by United Kingdom assay offices. Silver articles of a fineness of only 800 or 830 may not, however, be described as being made of silver in the United Kingdom, unless they are intended for export.
This is the first time that the United Kingdom has recognised hallmarks applied in other countries. I hope that the convention will bring trade benefits to all the countries concerned and that it will attract wide adherence.