USE OF THE LION MARK FOR ENGLISH SILVER

As this motion is using historical data, we may not have the record of the original ordering, in which case signatories are listed alphabetically.

This is an amendment to an existing motion

This motion was originally tabled by Mr Austin Mitchell on 27 October 1998. This is amendment number 1.

View details of the original motion

Suggested amendment

leave out from 'a' to end and insert 'voluntary mark; concerned that complexity and confusion may arise when articles marked with other European Economic Area hallmarks become saleable in the United Kingdom in 1999 without the application of a British hallmark; and noting that recognition of all these hallmarks with certainty will be extremely difficult for the consumer, regulatory authorities and the industry; urges the Secretary of State to support the draft directive relating to Articles of Precious Metal, which is welcomed by the majority of British jewellers as it will provide a simpler framework of hallmarks while allowing all the elements of the British hallmark to be retained, and will provide a higher degree of protection to the trade and to the consumer; and further urges the Secretary of State to insist that the directive provides for an "e" to be applied to articles certified by a hallmark, and an "E" if certified by a declaration of conformity.'.

Original motion text

That this House, concerned at the ending of 450 years of continuous hallmarking of English silver with the Lion Mark as a guarantee of the quality which has made English silverware the best in the world; urges the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to insist on keeping the Lion Mark as a compulsory symbol imposed by the Assay Offices; considers that if the European Commission's desire to standardise symbols across the EU leads to any amendment of the Hallmarking Act, it should only be by adding the Euro symbol to the Lion to enable consumers round the world to recognise English quality production, as well as European origin; considers that if the Lion symbol is reduced to a voluntary rather than a compulsory mark the long historical continuation will be fractured, and any importer of foreign produced silver will be able to submit imports to the Assay Office which will then be required to stamp them with the English Lion if requested, a situation which can only weaken both the value of the Lion Mark and the world-wide reputation of English silver; further urges the Secretary of State to act quickly to save the Lion Mark so that the Assay Office can prepare their expensive die-stamps for next year and continue to operate in certainty; and regrets the fact that decisions on this important matter have not only been left far too late but have also been approached with neither public debate nor wider consultation of either consumers or producers of England's high quality silver.

The first 6 Members who have signed to support the motion are the sponsors. The primary sponsor is generally the person who tabled the motion and has responsibility for it. The date shown is when the Member signed the motion.