HC Deb 27 November 1978 vol 959 cc4-5
4. Mr. Corbett

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what recent meetings he has had with the Association of British Travel Agents.

The Under-Secretary of State for Trade (Mr. Clinton Davis)

I am meeting the president and other representatives of the Association of British Travel Agents tomorrow.

Mr. Corbett

When my hon. Friend has such a meeting, will he ask ABTA whether it can devise more effective ways for its members to make clear their membership of the association to customers who walk in off the street, in order to protect customers who deal with non-ABTA members and subsequently run into disputes about their holidays? Is my hon. Friend aware that a number of firms, including such firms as Odyssey Travel, trading from Oxford Street, are not ABTA members and do not advertise the fact that they are not, and it would be better if ways could be found by ABTA to have a clear and distinctive sign to encourage members of the public to notice with whom they are dealing?

Mr. Davis

I do not think that the problem arises among those who are members of ABTA. If they are members of ABTA, I am sure that they take every opportunity to advertise that fact. The trouble arises with people who are not members of ABTA. However, I suggest that if my hon. Friend has any specific problem that I can broach with ABTA when its representatives come to see me tomorrow, he should give me details of it.