HC Deb 19 January 1981 vol 997 c12
15. Mr. Waller

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what response has been made to the working party report on advertising control.

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

We are considering the working party's recommendations and will announce our conclusions in due course.

Mr. Waller

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the circumstances in which it would be necessary for the Director-General of Fair Trading to apply to a court to have an advertisement banned before it appears, would be so rare that it seems unnecessary to have such legislation? Should we not give up trying to comply with the EEC draft directive and instead rely on the good sense of the advertising industry, which has proved quite adequate until now?

Mrs. Oppenheim

Work on the proposed Community directive on misleading and unfair advertising, which has been temporarily suspended, will resume in Brussels early this year. That will have to take account of the special features in our system. Our legal and voluntary regime works well on the whole, and we should not wish to do anything to undermine it.

Mr. Hooley

Is the right hon. Lady aware that it is not control that is required for alcohol and tobacco, but total abolition?

Mrs. Oppenheim

That is a matter for others of my right hon. Friends.