§ 22. Mr. Roseasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will seek powers to initiate an inquiry into package tour holidays and set up a permanent committee to deal with complaints and enforce a code of conduct.
§ Mr. CorfieldI do not consider that there is a need for an inquiry of this kind, or for a permanent committee. The number of complaints about package 524 tours is very small compared with the number of holidays taken each year by United Kingdom residents. However, I will keep the matter under review.
§ Mr. RoseIs the Minister of State aware that his answer is complete nonsense, and that these complaints are sent not to the Board of Trade but to Members of Parliament and others? Is he aware that I can provide him with a large dossier on this subject, and that it is estimated that this year 250,000 holidaymakers are due to have their holidays interfered with, without redress, because of negligence or insufficient service by the tour operators?
§ Mr. CorfieldI would suggest that the hon. Member's duty is to pass the information to the Government Department concerned, which is the Board of Trade. If he does so, I shall certainly look into the complaints.