§ 2.32 p.m.
§ BARONESS ELLIOT OF HARWOODMy 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 when they will again introduce a Bill for the protection of consumers.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, BOARD OF TRADE (LORD RHODES)My Lords, my right honourable friend has said in another place that he intends to introduce this legislation as soon as Parliamentary time permits, although he cannot at present say whether it will be possible this Session. I appreciate that the noble Lady has a special interest in this matter, but I cannot go any further at the present time.
§ BARONESS ELLIOT OF HARWOODMy Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his Answer, may I say that it is very disappointing? I do not know whether the Minister realises that, by postponing this very important Bill, which at the end of the last Session was three-quarters of its way through your Lordships' House, we are leaving the public and the consumers open to all the abuses which the Bill was meant to obviate. Could the Minister not urge on the right honourable gentleman the President of the Board of Trade that this Bill is urgent and should be regarded as more urgent than many other Bills which the present Government are anxious to put through?
§ LORD RHODESYes, my Lords, I will, and am doing so at the present time. I hope that it will have some result.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether, while realising that the present interim period is being used for most useful discussions, he is aware that all 961 sides of the House support, at least in part, what the noble Lady has said? Is he further aware that there seems to be a danger of Governments, of whichever Party, taking great note of the consumers in difficult times, such as the moment, but failing to take account of them at times which are not so difficult? Will he please do what he can to get this measure debated as soon as possible?
§ LORD RHODESI can assure the noble Lady that we are enthusiastic about this subject, and that as soon as we possibly can we shall bring it to the House again.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord what has happened between this Session and last Session which has caused this Bill to be relegated in priority?
§ LORD RHODESA very great victory for the Labour Party.
§ BARONESS ELLIOT OF HARWOODMy Lords, if that is so, then it is very depressing news for the consumer that a victory for the Labour Party is something which is going to be used to ignore the consumer completely. I beg of the noble Lord to go to his superior Minister in the other place and tell him that the consumers are very angry, and that they will not be content with answers like that.
§ LORD RHODESMy Lords, may I remind the noble Lady that the Conservative Party also had a great victory in 1951, with a very similar sort of majority, and that they were not able to introduce such a measure in 13 years, whereas we introduced one in 15 months?
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I am sorry, but that just will not do. Is my noble friend aware—I believe he may have made a slip of the tongue—that, while I did not agree with everything the noble Lady said in her original supplementary, I support wholeheartedly all that she said in her last supplementary? Is he further aware that those of us on this side of the House would regard a victory for the Labour Party as being a real cause for getting on with this job at once?
§ LORD RHODESMy Lords, I have no doubt but that the voices of the noble Ladies will be going down the corridors 962 to the other place, where decisions lie; and I assure your Lordships that I will do all in my power to bring it forward.