§ 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 yet received the report on the working of the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 from the Director General of Fair Trading; and if not when they expect to do so.
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I understand that the Director General intends to report to the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection before his appointment ends next month.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, as Mr. Methven is taking up his duties at the CBI on 14th June, have' the Government any more exact information to give regarding the date? May I ask my noble friend the Minister whether he is aware that a year ago, on 24th June, the House was told that there would be a Consultative Document and that interested parties could then make representations? Is he further aware that the problem of airline overbooking will probably be raised in the report under consideration of Section 14(1)? Finally, can he say whether there will be a Consultative Document and whether there would be any point in making representations?
Lord ORAMMy Lords, I have no further information about the contents of the report which my noble friend Lady Burton of Coventry has not received. 118 But the Review Committee issued a Consultative Document to many organisations outlining its general thinking; no doubt in formulating its final report it has used the replies to that Consultative Document. As to the question of airline overbooking, I would be surprised if the report of the Review Committee does not bring forward some general points which affect this. But it would be wrong for me to speculate as to whether the Committee will go into detail on that subject and whether any of the recommendations of the Committee will reflect that practice.
§ Baroness BURTON of COVENTRYMy Lords, believing that my noble friend the Minister obviously wishes to be helpful, may I ask him whether he recalls that at col. 1402 of Hansard on 11th March last, the Minister said:
I can confirm that the Government do not propose any action before the report has been considered."?Would he feel able to say whether that still holds good?