§ Lord JACQUESMy 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 why Statutory Instruments are not available to the public in advance of the date on which they come into operation, and in particular, why Statutory Instrument No. 2/1977 relating to the maximum retail price of paraffin, which was operative from 8th January 1977, was not received by trade associations until 11th January 1977 so that it was about a week after the operative date when their members received the advice.
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, most general Statutory Instruments are brought into operation after, and normally some weeks after, they have been printed and put on sale. The need to ensure the orderly marketing of paraffin means that only two or three days can be allowed between the laying and bringing into operation of paraffin orders. Full details of paraffin price increases are given on the day that the order is laid in a departmental Press notice circulated to the media to ensure wide publicity.
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that reply. Is he aware that traders cannot take their instructions from the media? They take their instructions from trade associations. Is my noble friend further aware that Statutory Instruments should be received by trade associations at least 14 days in advance of the operative date? This is to allow them time to study the Instrument and to advise their members. Their members have afterwards to instruct their branches as to the effect of the order. 618 I should be glad if my noble friend could follow this up.
§ Lord STRABOLGIYes, my Lords, I have a lot of sympathy with what my noble friend has said. The Department of Energy wrote to the trade associations on 6th January before the order came into operation, and the major oil companies also immediately passed the details on to their retailers. A lengthy delay in bringing these particular orders into operation would lead to a run on stocks.
Baroness VICKERSMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he would agree to support more fully what the noble Lord, Lord Jacques, has said? I happen to be a member of the Statutory Instruments Committee, and all too recently we have had a number of orders brought in without the 21 days' notice. We actually complained about this. This paraffin order is one of those we took up with the Department concerned.
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, there are difficulties, but, as I say, it is necessary for these particular orders to be issued within a shorter period than the normal ones. But the Department is entering into talks with the trade associations, and I hope that these are some of the difficulties that can be explored.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, the noble Lord has said that letters were issued on 6th January, but that gave only two days for the recipients of the letters then to pass the information on. Two days is much too short a time for all the action to be taken. Will the noble Lord treat this as a serious matter, because the price control system is difficult enough for retailers to follow without the problems of hearing of the event only after it has occurred, or being expected to learn of it through the media?
§ Lord STRABOLGIYes, my Lords, I will certainly take note of what the noble Lord has said and pass it on to my right honourable friend.
§ Lord JACQUESMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that by not passing the information to the media the Department could prevent a run on stocks, but they could nevertheless advise trade associations who have to do the work?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, I do not think that the information is passed to the media sufficiently early for there to be a run on stocks, but I will certainly note the point that my noble friend has made.
§ Lord MACKIE of BENSHIEMy Lords, is the Front Bench aware of the enormous value of gamekeepers turning into poachers?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, I certainly know what it is like to be on the receiving end of my noble friend.