asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she has yet reconsidered her policy on origin marking; and if she will make a statement.

It is an offence under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 to give a false or misleading indication of the place of manufacture of goods, and the 1972 Act requires origin marking for all imported goods to which a United Kingdom name or mark is applied. Domestic manufacturers are also free to mark their goods to show that they are made in Britain, and many do so. This should adequately protect consumers against misleading indications of origin on imported goods.