§ Mr. Masonasked the Secretary of State for Industry what percentage of the United Kingdom stainless steel cutlery market has been taken up by imports for each year over the past 10 years; if he is satisfied that the 1981 origins and marking legislation has been effective in curbing unfair competition; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MacGregorIt is only possible to provide approximate figures to take account of the incomplete coverage of production data. Those for stainless steel spoons and forks—flatware—are as follows:
percentage 1973 50 1974 50 1975 50 1976 75 1977 85 1978 80 1979 80 1980 90 1981 n/a 1982 70 n/a = not available.
However as stainless steel knives are not separately identified in the trade statistics comparable figures for them are not available.
The Trade Descriptions (Origin Marking) (Miscellaneous Goods) Order 1981 is a consumer measure, rather than a trade measure and is designed to provide individual consumers with information about the origin of goods. In this context my hon. Friend the Minister for Consumer Affairs is currently assessing its operation so far.