§ 12. Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will, in the interests of the consumer, refer to the Director General of Fair Trading practices relating to the collection and transfer of cherished number plates.
§ Mr. John FraserNo, Sir. I am not satisfied that commercial activities in this field are likely to affect adversely the economic interests of consumers.
§ Mr. RostDoes the hon. Gentleman accept any responsibility for the estimated 27,000 consumers who have been suffering disgraceful delays in the renewal of their motor licences? Has this shabby Government's vendetta against people spending their own money got to the point where they are not prepared to take any action to protect this large group of consumers?
§ Mr. FraserThe matters to which the hon. Gentleman refers are primarily for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Transport. I understand that there has been some inconvenience to consumers as a result of action at Swansea One of the unions has now ceased industrial action and the other is expected to do so shortly.
§ Mr. AdleyWill the Minister seriously consider referring to the Director General of Fair Trading the answer given by the Secretary of State about devaluation? Will he invite the Secretary of State to look up the value of the pound when it was floated in 1971 and see how it rose to 2 dollars 60 cents and where it was when this Government took office, and then have the good grace to apologise to the House for suggesting that the level of devaluation under Lord Barber was higher than that achieved by Sir Stafford Cripps?
§ Mr. FraserI do not think that those are the cherished numbers that are the subject of the Question.
§ Mr. LiptonWill the Government do something to decherish these number plates? Can we not abolish them altogether and give people other numbers instead?
§ Mr. FraserI am quite foxed by my hon. Friend. However, this is not a matter primarily for me.