§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what reports she has received of the sale in the UK of under-carated gold items made in the USA; what action she will take; and if she will make a statement. [114970]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not received any reports of the sale in the UK of under-carated gold items made in the USA.
§ Linda PerhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which(a) Ministers and (b) officials in her Department have met representatives of (i) the Local Authorities Co-ordinating Office on Regulatory Services, (ii) the Trading Standards Institute and (iii) representatives of MSF/Amicus to discuss the EU draft directive on precious metals. [114985]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonDTI officials have met representatives from the Trading Standards Institute and will shortly be meeting those from the Local Authorities Coordinating Office on Regulatory Services. DTI officials have not met representatives from MSF/Amicus, but have been in regulator contact with them.
§ Mr. WigginTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions she has had with representatives from other countries regarding the introduction of independent hallmarking of items made from precious metals; what advice was sought; and what advice she gave. [114987]
§ Miss Melanie JohnsonMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has not had any discussions with representatives from other countries regarding the introduction of independent hallmarking of items made from precious metals.
342WThe UK operates a system of compulsory independent testing and marking of articles of precious metal, which provides a high level of consumer protection.