§ 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 have now received the report on the working of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 from the Director General of Fair Trading and, if so, when this report will be published.
Lord ORAMMy Lords, the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection has received the Director General's report and is considering its contents. The report will be published as soon as possible.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, is it possible for the Minister to be a little more exact? Does he anticipate that the report will be published before the House rises for the Summer Recess? Secondly, would he be able to disclose to the House whether in the report, in considering Section 14(1) of the Act, reference is made to the practice of overbooking by airlines and any recommendations are made?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I regret that I cannot be more exact about the date, except to assure my noble friend that my right honourable friend the Secretary of State is as anxious as she is to have the report published. I am sure my noble friend Lady Burton of Coventry would not expect me to give her details of a report which is still being considered by the Secretary of State.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, while appreciating and, if I may say so, agreeing with what the 1374 Minister has said, may I ask him whether he realises that there is a problem here for those of us on the Back-Benches who are interested in these matters? if suggestions are made in the report concerning the practice of overbooking by airlines, is it possible for us to have an opportunity of discussing those suggestions in this House before the Civil Aviation Authority makes any recommendations regarding the practice?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, the first point I think I should make to my noble friend is that the report, like the Act which it reviews, is concerned with misdescriptions of practices rather than with the practices themselves. There will he a full opportunity to make representations on the basis of the report before any legislation arising out of it is made.
Lord HAWKEMy Lords, would not Her Majesty's Government arrange for the report to be " leaked " so that the noble Baroness's qualms may he set at rest?