§ Mr. Greenwayasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the number of riding hats imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years, showing the country of origin; what proposals he has for controlling the standards of such imported hats; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardInformation relating to imports of riding hats is not separately identified in the overseas trade statistics.
Under the general safety duty proposed in the White Paper on the Safety of Goods (Cmnd. 9302) supplies of consumer goods (whether home produced or imported) will be required to ensure that their goods are safe in accordance with sound modern standards. It is proposed that the Secretary of State has the power to approve published standards as satisfying the general safety duty. British standard 6473 for riding hats appears to be suitable for this purpose. It is also proposed that trading standards officers should have power to seize or suspend unsafe goods at the point of entry into this country. The 417W Government intend to introduce legislation to give effect to the measure proposed in the White Paper as soon as the parliamentary timetable permits.