To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that online sellers meet their obligations in relation to (a) the Hallmarking Act 1973 and (b) the payment of VAT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that online sellers meet their obligations in relation to (a) the Hallmarking Act 1973 and (b) the payment of VAT.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues and with his EU counterparts on the EU's decision on British metal hallmarking.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues and with his EU counterparts on the EU's decision on British metal hallmarking.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of the impact of the EU's decision to not recognise British hallmarking on (a) smiths and (b) jewellers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department has made an assessment of the impact of the EU's decision to not recognise British hallmarking on (a) smiths and (b) jewellers.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to develop a UK hallmark.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to develop a UK hallmark.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received about the decision of Birmingham Assay Office, pursuant to the Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013, to open an office in Mumbai on 18 July that will use a mark for silver to be imported into the UK that is similar...

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have received about the decision of Birmingham Assay Office, pursuant to the Legislative Reform (Hallmarking) Order 2013, to open an office in Mumbai on 18 July that will use a mark for silver to be imported into the UK that is similar...

British Hallmarking Council. Triennial review. 36 p.

British Hallmarking Council. Triennial review. 36 p.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the Hallmarking Convention in protecting the British precious metals industry.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the Hallmarking Convention in protecting the British precious metals industry.

My Lords, the primary purpose of the draft order is to enable the UK’s assay offices—that is, the bodies which test and hallmark articles of precious metal—to set up hallmarking operations in offshore locations. The Hallmarking Act

1973, which governs hallmarking in the UK, currently prohibits such operations, limiting the...

My Lords, the primary purpose of the draft order is to enable the UK’s assay offices—that is, the bodies which test and hallmark articles of precious metal—to set up hallmarking operations in offshore locations. The Hallmarking Act

1973, which governs hallmarking in the UK, currently prohibits such operations, limiting the...

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his careful and detailed explanation of the order, and I thank the officials in his department for the very extensive explanatory document they have provided. Before I go any further I have to declare an interest. I am a liveryman of the...

My Lords, I thank my noble friend for his careful and detailed explanation of the order, and I thank the officials in his department for the very extensive explanatory document they have provided. Before I go any further I have to declare an interest. I am a liveryman of the...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his very clear and interesting opening remarks and for setting out the background to this order. I am also grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, for us being not just a duet. We have not only an extra speaker but somebody who...

My Lords, I thank the Minister for his very clear and interesting opening remarks and for setting out the background to this order. I am also grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, for us being not just a duet. We have not only an extra speaker but somebody who...

My Lords, it has been a somewhat lonely debate, but I am most grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Stevenson, and my noble friend Lord Hodgson for their considerable contributions. The paucity of contributors to the debate has been counteracted by the considerable number of questions, notably from the noble...

My Lords, it has been a somewhat lonely debate, but I am most grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Stevenson, and my noble friend Lord Hodgson for their considerable contributions. The paucity of contributors to the debate has been counteracted by the considerable number of questions, notably from the noble...

I do not think that I can let that pass. Unfortunately, I have just given away my notes, but I am sure that a close reading of Hansard will show that I never said such a thing and I did not raise that point. It is an interesting one and...

I do not think that I can let that pass. Unfortunately, I have just given away my notes, but I am sure that a close reading of Hansard will show that I never said such a thing and I did not raise that point. It is an interesting one and...

I do apologise; I was under the impression that the noble Lord had raised that issue.

The noble Lord, Lord Stevenson, raised the issue of how to inform consumers about these changes. The procedure is that a dealer’s notice is required to be displayed in all premises selling hallmarked items, and...

I do apologise; I was under the impression that the noble Lord had raised that issue.

The noble Lord, Lord Stevenson, raised the issue of how to inform consumers about these changes. The procedure is that a dealer’s notice is required to be displayed in all premises selling hallmarked items, and...

I thank my noble friend. I do not doubt that his officials will be able to answer my question very quickly. Am I right in reading from the explanatory document that the profit expected

from this is £400,000 a year? Have I read the explanatory document right? It seems to...

I thank my noble friend. I do not doubt that his officials will be able to answer my question very quickly. Am I right in reading from the explanatory document that the profit expected

from this is £400,000 a year? Have I read the explanatory document right? It seems to...

Indeed, I have read the document and I can confirm that that is in the notes that I have read. I believe that it is an estimate, but I note what my noble friend has said in terms of the actual sum of money.

In conclusion, I hope sincerely that the...

Indeed, I have read the document and I can confirm that that is in the notes that I have read. I believe that it is an estimate, but I note what my noble friend has said in terms of the actual sum of money.

In conclusion, I hope sincerely that the...

Motion to consider agreed to on question.

Motion to consider agreed to on question.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their conclusions regarding the future of the hallmarking of items made from precious metals following the consultation launched earlier this year.

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what are their conclusions regarding the future of the hallmarking of items made from precious metals following the consultation launched earlier this year.