Harris Tweed Act 1993

1993 CHAPTER xi

An Act to make provision for the establishment of a Harris Tweed Authority to promote and maintain the authenticity, standard and reputation of Harris Tweed; for the definition of Harris Tweed; for preventing the sale as Harris Tweed of material which does not fall within the definition; for the Authority to become the successor to The Harris Tweed Association Limited; and for other purposes incidental thereto.

[20th July 1993]

WHEREAS—

(1) The production of the handwoven tweed known as Harris Tweed provides the main source of work within the private sector in the Outer Hebrides and it is vital to the economy of those islands that the integrity, distinctive character and worldwide renown of Harris Tweed should be maintained:

(2) Tweed had been woven in the Outer Hebrides for centuries, but it was not until the nineteenth century that it became available to a wider market, and in 1909 The Harris Tweed Association Limited (hereinaftercalled “the Company”) was formed as a company limited by guarantee in order to promote, maintain and advertise the reputation and standard of quality of Harris Tweed:

(3) In the same year the Company registered the trade mark incorporating an orb surmounted by a Maltese cross which has come to symbolise Harris Tweed and one of its functions is to ensure that this mark is borne only by material which can genuinely be described, and which the Company has authenticated, as such:

(4) Changes were made in 1978 to the constitution of the Company but it has become clear that a private company is no longer a satisfactory body fully to safeguard the Harris Tweed industry and to secure for the future its goodwill and enterprise, and that the achievement of those objects requires the establishment of a statutory authority as successor to the Company, the enactment of provisions for the definition of Harris Tweed and the enactment of provisions which allow proceedings to be taken by the Authority and others against those who falsely represent material as being Harris Tweed:

(5) The Western Isles Islands Council (hereinafter called “the Council”) shares the desire of the Company that those objects should be achieved because, as the council for the local government area which comprises the Outer Hebrides, it has an interest in preserving and furthering the welfare and prospects of employment of the inhabitants:

(6) In relation to the promotion of the Bill for this Act the Western Isles Islands Council have complied with the requirements of section 82 of the [1973 c. 65.] Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973:

(7) It is expedient that such provisions should be enacted as are contained in this Act:

(8) The objects of this Act cannot be attained without the authority of Parliament:

May it therefore please Your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it enacted, by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—