§ 2.35 p.m.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are now in a position to announce the name of the Chairman of the Consumer Council and the terms of reference of the Council; if both will be announced together and if such announcement is not possible to-day, when it will be made.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, BOARD OF TRADE (LORD DERWENT)My Lords, my right honourable friend is pressing on with the establishment of the Consumer Council as rapidly as possible. It is his intention to announce at the same time both the terms of reference of the Council and the name of the first Chairman. He is not in a position to do so at present, but hopes to be able to make an announcement in the fairly near future. I regret that I cannot give the House any more definite indication than this.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, while realising that the Minister is not responsible for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that it is practically seven months since the Government on July 26 announced their intention of setting up the Consumer Council? Does he not think that is a very long period, even for this Government?
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, I understand that nine months is the more usual period.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, may I ask the Minister whether 880 he realises that this long delay is doing a great disservice to the consumer movement, and whether he can suggest when it might be better to put down a Question which would be more productive?
§ LORD DERWENTMy Lords, my right honourable friend hopes to be able to make an announcement of these two things either in the spring, or in the early summer, at the latest. There are still certain points in connection with the terms of reference which are not quite settled, although I think they will be settled shortly. There is at the same time to be announced the name of the new Chairman. I am sorry I cannot do more at the moment.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I am sorry to press the Minister on this particular point. Am I not right in assuming that an Answer given recently in another place was to the effect that the Consumer Council itself was expected to be working in the spring or early summer? Are we now to take it from the Minister's reply that we cannot expect even to be told the name of the Chairman and the terms of reference before we are given the names of the Consumer Council?
§ LORD DERWENTIt will be working as soon as it starts.
§ LORD MORRISON OF LAMBETHMy Lords, when the noble Lord says that the usual time is nine months rather than seven months, does he mean that it usually takes this Government nine months to do what most Governments could do in three months?
§ LORD DERWENTI cannot imagine any Government appointing a Chairman and Council, when the individuals who have to be written to often require a good deal of time to make up their minds, in as quick a time as the noble Lord suggests.
§ LORD MORRISON OF LAMBETHMy Lords, the Question of my noble friend was with regard to the terms of reference and the Chairman. She did not ask for the names of the members of the Council. Will the noble Lord stick to the point? Does it take this Government nine months to do that, whereas most Governments could do it in three months? Come along, tell us. Stumped!
§ EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGHMy Lords, are we to take the noble Lord's silence as a measure of the state of tiredness of the Government?
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, in view of her great interest in the matter, may we take it that the noble Baroness, Lady Burton of Coventry, has been invited to serve on this Council? This is a serious question.
§ LORD CONESFORDMy Lords, could my noble friend throw any light on what is meant by the noble Baroness when she refers to the "consumer movement"?
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLCould the noble Lord answer my question?
§ LORD DERWENTThe noble Baroness's question has nothing to do with the original Question.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I am sorry, but I was rather tempted. I do not know whether it would be the custom for me, through the Minister opposite, to refer to the noble Lord who asked about the consumer movement. May I ask him whether he is aware that, if he looks back to the Hansard's when he held office in another place, he will find that I said a great deal about the consumer movement of this country?
§ THE LORD PRESIDENT OF THE COUNCIL AND MINISTER FOR SCIENCE (VISCOUNT HAILSHAM)My Lords, I think my noble friend is more concerned with the English language than the particular form in which he put his question.