§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the effect of the single European market in respect of consumer protection on the purchase of items made from gold and silver.
§ Mr. LeighThere are no proposals at present to introduce a Communitywide system of marking precious metals so the completion of the single European market 19W will not in itself have any effect on the legislation currently in force in the United Kingdom and the other member states in this area. It will, however, be necessary at some stage to establish a common regime for precious metals in the European Community. The Government have made it clear that they regard the compulsory marking of articles of precious metals as essential to protect both purchasers and the trade and that the United Kingdom hallmarking system is the best means of ensuring this.