§ 16. Mr. Whiteheadasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if, following the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Civil Liability, he will now introduce legislation to establish the principle of liability of manufacturers to consumers for defective products.
§ Mr. John FraserI am currently studying those parts of the Royal Commission report that relate to product liability. However, this is only one of several initiatives on the subject, all of which are being considered in detail.
§ Mr. WhiteheadCan we not have legislation on this matter, whatever else has to be studied, which brings it in line with the Strasbourg Convention and pins strict liability in cases of injury to the consumer on the manufacturer of the product and the components involved in it?
§ Mr. FraserThere are great attractions in the principle of product liability and putting the manufacturer and the distributor on much the same footing as present obligations put on the retailer. However, this is something which must be done on a Continent-wide basis. It would be a most unreasonable burden on British industry if it were done only in this country. I shall certainly press on with my consultations.
§ Mr. FellBefore taking any steps in this direction, will the Minister consider that one of the most defective products in this country comes from the plant bakery of the newly created monopoly of Allied and Rank Hovis McDougall bakers? Will he therefore try to persuade the Secretary of State once again to refer the price of bread to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission, which he has refused to do so far?
§ Mr. FraserMy right hon. Friend will have noted the hon. Gentleman's comments.
§ Mr. AshleyIs my hon. Friend aware that it has taken the Royal Commission five years to recommend some obvious principles? Does he agree that one of the most obvious and desirable is the principle of strict liability, and can he assure us that the Government will work at least five times as fast as the Commission and, in any case, faster than the jogging pace that we have come to expect from his Department?
§ Mr. FraserI shall certainly press on with consultations and negotiations with our partners in Europe on this matter, but it must be done on an EEC-wide basis. I hope that progress will not be long delayed.
§ Mr. McCrindleOn another aspect of the Pearson Commission's recommendations, will the Minister, with his responsibility for prices, play down the expectation that State introduction of some accident benefit for motor accident victims will lead automatically to a sizeable reduction in motor insurance premiums?
§ Mr. FraserThat is not a matter for me.