§ 3.18 p.m.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the first major recommendation of the Consumer Council relating to stamp trading, whether they are now prepared to support legislation to implement the recommendation.]
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, my right honourable friend announced in another place on November 21 that he saw no need for the Government to intervene in this controversy. He is now studying the views recently published by the Consumer Council to which the noble Lord refers. He will, of course, also give careful consideration to any recommendations which the Consumer Council may make to him about legislation to give effect to their views. They have not so far, however, made any such recommendations to him.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, in view of the unsatisfactory reply to my first Question, and in view of the reply now given by the noble Marquess, I give notice that I propose to raise this matter, I hope next week.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, if that is not tantamount, as it is in another place, to closing the discussion, may I ask the Minister whether he is aware that it is reported on the tape that Cadbury's have refused supplies to Tesco on the basis of resale price maintenance? May I ask the Minister, without in any way going into the rights or wrongs of this particular subject, whether he would not agree that matters such as this inflict grave damage on the consumer—and it is the consumer with whom I am concerned. Would the Government not accept that they really should look into this deprivation when they are considering these various points?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I was not actually aware of the case of which the noble Lady has informed me, and I will certainly bring it to the attention of my noble friend. Of course, the Government are deeply concerned with the rights of the consumer on these matters, but, in view of what the noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, has said, perhaps we might consider the discussion closed for to-day.
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, would the noble Marquess at the same time ask his right honourable friend to consider what is the effect upon trade in general, including the consumers, of a literally blackmailing operation under which unless you buy the stamps you are threatened with a loss of trade in consequence; and where, as soon as everybody has agreed to buy the stamps, there is then no advantage to the trader at all? So the trader is being blackmailed into the position where he constantly makes a contribution to a purely parasitical organisation.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, is it not a fact that a Private Member's Bill is being introduced on this subject, and will that not provide an admirable opportunity to discuss this whole problem?
§ LORD MORRISON OF LAMBETHMy Lords, may I ask the noble Marquess, who was good enough to say that the Government are very much concerned with the interests of consumers, if that is not speaking with a different voice from the voice of the noble and learned Lord, the Lord Chancellor, who in effect has near enough said that neither he nor the Government are concerned with them?
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORMy Lords, the noble Lord, of course, can misrepresent what I said, and take it out of its context. I would only say that I said nothing of the sort.
§ LORD MORRISON OF LAMBETHMy Lords, I asked a question of the noble Marquess opposite, and I want a reply from him. I was not asking for a reply from the Lord Chancellor, though I do not in any way resent what he said. But I ask for a reply from the noble Marquess who made the statement.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I hope that the Government always speak with one voice on this question.
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, I asked a question and I have not yet had an answer.
§ LORD AIREDALEMy Lords, is it not a fact that in this House, unlike another place, we may ask questions only of Her Majesty's Government, and, unfortunately, sometimes we have no control over the personality of the Minister who happens to answer the question?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I will certainly bring the noble Lord's observations to the attention of my noble friend.
§ LORD MORRISON OF LAMBETHThat is the best way out.