HC Deb 21 July 1975 vol 896 cc22-3
11. Mr. Crouch

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she will make a statement on her proposals for improving the safety of consumer products.

Mr. Alan Williams

I am currently reviewing our powers in this area and propose to issue a consultative document as a result. Meanwhile my Department is preparing further regulations under the Consumer Protection Act 1961.

Mr. Crouch

I thank the Minister for that reply. Is he aware that many hon. Members regard as most important the area of his Department concerned with the safety of products. Will he say whether the consultative document will be in the nature of a Green Paper, which will cover, in particular, such items as electrical appliances and children's toys?

Mr. Alan Williams

Electrical appliances will be the subject of a regulation which we hope to lay before the House before the recess. We trust that that will have already been achieved before the consultative document comes forward. This will the first time that there has been a public discussion about the safety responsibilities of the Department. We want to raise issues on the question whether there should be a cease-and-desist power with the Minister or Director General, and whether there should be a improvement of the pilot scheme which we have for obtaining information about product-caused accidents from accident units of hospitals.

Mr. Greville Janner

I thank the Minister for the steps that are now being taken in connection with the safety of consumer products, but is he also proposing to take steps to deal with the safety of consumer services in which area consumers are totally unprotected at present, largely because they are not protected against the effects of totally misleading and disgraceful exclusion clauses?

Mr. Alan Williams

My hon. and learned Friend will be aware that the exclusion clauses are the subject of consideration by the Law Commissions, over whom Parliament has given my Department no control whatsoever. [Interruption.] My hon. and learned Friend may chunter away as much as he wishes. He is free to bring forward a Private Member's motion to give my Department power, but I cannot act outside the powers which the House of Commons has given to the Department. On services, we shall, of course, be including the whole range of safety factors covered by the Department in the consultative document.