HL Deb 05 July 1972 vol 332 cc1343-5

2.41 p.m.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My 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, in view of the announcement made on June 29 last by the E.E.C. Commission to the effect that it hopes to improve its contacts with European consumer organisations, they are able to make any Statement concerning further progress towards the setting up of an Institute of Consumer Affairs and, if not, what central body is envisaged to make these European contacts.

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO (LORD DRUMALBYN)

My Lords, on the question of the Institute, I cannot add to what my noble friend Lord Limerick said in answer to the noble Baroness's Question on June 19. I do not think, however, that the announcement to which the noble Baroness has referred is conclusive as to the need for such a body. The E.E.C. Commission have announced that they will keep in regular contact with five non-Governmental bodies which were formerly members of the E.E.C. Consumers' Contact Committee. These are the European Bureau of Consumer Unions, the Committee of Family Organisations of the European Communities, the European Community of Consumers' Co-operatives, the European Confederation of the Community's Free Trade Unions, and the European Organisation of the World Confederation of Labour. The Consumers' Association is already a member of the first of these bodies. Other organisations in this country which have interests in consumer protection will no doubt wish to consider whether they should seek to join any of the organisations I have mentioned.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that when the Answer is favourable, it is brief? Is the noble Lord also aware that he has told me nothing which I did not already know? May I now ask him, without detracting in any way from what the Consumers' Association has done, whether it is not time that we in this country, whether it be an Institute of Consumer Affairs, or something else, should give consideration to establishing some central body which could deal with these matters?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I can assure the noble Baroness that that question is being given consideration at the present time both inside and outside Parliament. What I cannot do is to tell her the result of that consideration. I am sure that she would prefer that that consideration should be careful and thorough rather than that a result be reached by some quick decision.

BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRY

My Lords, does not the noble Lord hope that perhaps he may be able to give me a brief answer before the House rises for the Summer Recess?

LORD DRUMALBYN

No, my Lords; I am afraid that is unlikely.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, in the light of the statement of the President of France yesterday in relation to Britain's pounds, does he not think that in the future we shall be singing the great Eurovision song, Puppet on a String?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I did not quite catch the end of that question. I would merely point out that the noble Baroness who asked the Question confined her supplementary to the establishment of an Institute in this country.

BARONESS ELLIOT OF HARWOOD

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend whether such an Institute would not play a very important part in bringing together our many consumer groups in this country, so that eventually, or immediately, they would be able to co-operate much more closely with the E.E.C. body? It would be infinitely more effective.

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, the objective of making the consumer's voice heard of course is the same. The question is how best to do this. That is the first question. The second is how best to do it in view of our impending entry into Europe. The point is that none of the European Community countries has a Governmental Institute of that kind either.

LORD SLATER

My Lords, the Minister mentioned in the course of his reply to my noble friend Lady Burton the "European Free Trade Unions". Can he state what connection there is between the International Federation of Trade Unions in regard to the Free Trade Unions of Europe in the context of the reply that he has already given?

LORD DRUMALBYN

My Lords, I cannot answer that question. I imagine that it is a section of it because it is described as the "European Confederation of the Community's Free Trade Unions". But I will let the noble Lord know the answer to his question.