§ 4. Mr. Loydenasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection which commercial activities have led to the greatest number of complaints at consumer advice centres in the last 12 months.
§ Mr. John FraserThe information available does not separately indentify consumer complaints made to consumer advice centres. Details of complaints received by a number of advice services, including these centres, are provided in the latest annual report of the Director General of Fair Trading which was laid before the House on 10th March. The greatest number of complaints were about motor vehicles, followed by clothing and furniture.
§ Mr. LoydenIn the light of those figures, what does my hon. Friend propose to do about the appalling situation in which there is such a high level of consumer complaints about cars in particular?
§ Mr. FraserThe Director General has brought about a voluntary code of practice, but I am afraid that many car dealers, particularly second-hand dealers, do not subscribe to it. I have made some suggestions about a possible system of licensing or regulation of those carrying on trade like this in order that we may secure better protection for the public. In the case of the other complaints, the use of our existing labelling requirements and the use of regulations made under them may be a useful avenue.