HC Deb 11 May 2000 vol 349 cc1002-3
8. Mr. John Smith (Vale of Glamorgan)

What plans he has to extend further the rights of consumers. [120512]

The Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs (Dr. Kim Howells)

In our White Paper "Modern Markets: Confident Consumers", published last year, we set out how we intend to improve consumer law to help people get a fair deal. We are consulting on these changes to the law, which will provide tougher sanctions against rogue traders, tougher controls against the misdescription of services and better advice to consumers.

Mr. Smith

Has my hon. Friend's Department any plans to attempt to liberalise trade with the European trademark directive, which has resulted in a ridiculous situation where British retailers cannot market branded clothes at a competitive price because of bureaucratic European rules? The British consumer has been ripped off for too long, especially on designer clothes.

Dr. Howells

The Government are working with other sympathetic EU Governments, especially Sweden, to examine—and, where appropriate, promote—the benefits to consumers of relaxing the current European Union rules governing trademarks, parallel imports and other restrictions on the free movement and sale of goods. There should be no acceptance by consumers or retailers that people in Britain should be paying the same number of pounds for goods and services as they would be paying in dollars in the United States.

Mr. Peter Lilley (Hitchin and Harpenden)

Does the Minister agree that, while addressing people's rights as consumers, we must allay their concerns about health and the environment? In view of the concerns expressed about the health implications of mobile telephony, why are the Government not making a statement today about the report addressing those concerns that is published today? When will they come to Parliament and give us time to discuss the issue?

Dr. Howells

That is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health.