§ Mr. Roperasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether he is in consultation with outside organisations on the origin marking of goods; and if he will list in the Official Report those bodies to whom he has written.
§ Mr. John FraserYes. I am considering a specific request by the cutlery industry that an order should be made under section 8 of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 to require all cutlery to be marked with its country of origin. I have exchanged correspondence about this request with the Sheffield city council and the Federation of British Cutlery Manufacturers.
I have also written to the Chairman of the National Consumer Council and asked him to let me have the co-ordinated views of the consumer organisations on the possible benefits to the consumer of goods being marked with their country of origin.