§ 5. Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he is now able to indicate his intentions with regard to the document recently submitted to him by the British Insurance Brokers' Council.
§ Mr. Clinton DavisI have already said that I welcome the BIBC's proposals. Wide consultation will, however, be necessary. I hope to make a fuller statement later this month.
§ Mr. McCrindleI thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply. Does he agree that, if a practical system of control can be evolved by the industry, that would be preferable to a system of control by a Government Department?
§ Mr. DavisAs the hon. Gentleman knows from views which I have expressed before, I see no reason why a system of self-regulation, properly administered in accordance with approved criteria which are found to be practical, should not be at least as effective as any Government licensing system. It is for that reason that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment invited the brokers' organisations to put forward proposals, but I cannot say that the alternative has been totally ruled out.