§ 2. Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether it is her present intention to ask the TUC and the CBI to nominate members of the National Consumers' Agency; and whether she will make a statement on the composition of the agency.
The Minister of State, Department of Prices and Consumer Protection (Mr. Alan Williams)The composition of the agency is still under consideration. But as indicated in paragraph 5 of the White Paper (Cmnd. 5726), the TUC and CBI represent the interests of those concerned in the production of goods and services whereas the role of the agency will be to give similar voice to the interests of the consumer.
§ Mr. ThomasDoes my hon. Friend agree that it is important that the agency should be independent of producer interests? Does he also agree that it is important that if it is to reach the status, described in the slim White Paper, of being equivalent to the CBI and the TUC, great thought must be given to its chairmanship, the composition of the committee and the stature of its members? Can the House be told fairly soon in a rather more detailed way than we have been told in the White Paper?
Mr. WilliamsI agree completely with my hon. Friend that the independence of the agency must be clearly established. It is for this reason that we are considering the membership. First we want to 1092 consult the prospective chairman, since he will to a great extent determine the success of the agency. We want to discuss with him the precise form of membership.
§ Mr. RaisonCan the Minister give us an assurance that the agency will not be set up before the House has had an opportunity to debate the White Paper on the subject which was published only a relatively short time ago? Can the hon. Gentleman explain a mystery which has been puzzling a number of us—namely, that in the Labour Party manifesto it is categorically stated that
We have … set up a National Consumer Agency"?It appears that the Government are about to set up a National Consumers' Agency. Is not this a case where the manifesto should be reported to the Director General of Fair Trading?
Mr. WilliamsI do not recollect the passage which the hon. Gentleman mentions but I do not challenge the accuracy of what he says. All I would point out is that, since the White Paper was produced only in the late summer, it would, if anything, have been a printing error rather than an attempt to mislead since that was hardly the central point of the last General Election. As for the hon. Gentleman's request for a debate, I can understand his wish to have further discussion of the subject. I shall make the point to my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House but I cannot give any guarantee. I would point out that when the Consumer Council was set up it was the then Opposition—the Labour Party— which provided part of one of its own Supply Days for a debate on the issue. I do not think there has been a single Question about the National Consumers' Agency from any right hon. or hon. Member on the Tory Front Bench or back benches.