HL Deb 07 July 1983 vol 443 cc647-8

3.14 p.m.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will arrange for a debate in Parliament on the Department of Trade's proposals outlined in the paper The Nationalised Industry Consumer Council: A Strategy for Reform (December 1982), in view of the detailed suggestions put forward by consumer organisations and others concerning the relationship between Government, nationalised industry and the consumer.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Belstead)

My Lords, a debate is a matter for the usual channels. Our strategy for reform of the nationalised industry consumer councils takes full account of comments received in consultations last year with the consumer and other organisations concerned.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, as the noble Lord will of course know, that Answer takes us no further. Is the noble Lord aware that on 22nd December, at col. 1177 of Hansard, the Secretary of State said that. practical guidelines for NICC"— that is, Nationalised Industry Consumer Councils— operations will be prepared on the basis of proposals from the councils themselves and in consultation with the industries. This and other action to be set in hand now". That was six months ago. I wonder whether the Minister can explain to us what is the Government's interpretation of the word "now"?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, the Government's interpretation of the word "now" is that we are expecting the replies from the chairmen of the nationalised industries shortly.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, "shortly" is not as good as "now". I wonder whether I might ask the Minister if he is aware—and, if not, whether he will look into the matter—that a Bill was on the stocks before the general election and that it was expected that this subject would come forward in this present Session, whether before or after an election, provided that the same Government were in power? Can the noble Lord inform me whether that has now gone the way of other consumer proposals and whether this does not support the fear of many of us that consumer affairs have been demoted from the previous high status that they enjoyed when the Secretary of State was a Member of this House.

Lord Belstead

I cannot add to what has been stated in the Queen's Speech, my Lords. I wish however to assure the noble Baroness that we intend to maintain the momentum of consumer council reforms. I believe that we have shown our good intentions in this matter by putting the Electricity Consumers' Council on a statutory basis in the Energy Bill during the last Session of Parliament. The next step in the strategy is to consider the proposals of the chairmen of consumer councils for operating guidelines which I assure the noble Baroness my honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade is looking forward to receiving shortly.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, is the Minister aware that what I said had nothing whatever to do with the Queen's Speech? Will he recognise that I am aware of what the chairmen of the consumer councils have said? Is he prepared to help those of us who wish to have a discussion in the House on this vital matter to obtain one?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, the noble Baroness asked me about legislation. I therefore cannot add to or subtract from what is contained in the Queen's Speech.

Baroness Elliot of Harwood

My Lords, is the Minister aware of the volume of correspondence that I have received from consumer associations asking the very same Question as that put by the noble Baroness, Lady Burton, who is the leader on all these issues and whom I strongly support? Is it not possible at the beginning of a Session, when life is not quite so hectic, for the Government to arrange a debate as soon as possible on a matter that concerns many people and organisations—an issue in which I believe the Government should take a keen interest?

Lord Belstead

My Lords, I understand my noble friend's concern. I appreciate too from her record the concern of the noble Baroness, Lady Burton. But my noble friend and the noble Baroness opposite would be the first to complain if the Department of Trade and Industry did not take account of the chairmen of the consumer councils own proposals in reply to the letter of the then Minister, Dr. Vaughan, of March 1983 so far as operating guidelines are concerned. I repeat that these replies are expected shortly. If I may expand on that, I hope that this means either by the end of this month or some time during the following month.