§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy 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, further to their reply to the Baroness Burton of Coventry's starred Question of 7th June 1984 (col. 770), they are now able to state the expected date of publication by the Director General of Fair Trading of his discussion paper dealing with trading codes of practice.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth)My Lords, I believe that the planned discussion paper to which the noble Baroness refers is that which the Director General of Fair Trading plans to publish on the concept of a statutory general duty to trade fairly in consumer transactions. I understand that the preparation of this discussion paper is well advanced.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, I wonder whether the Minister will be a little more specific. I realise that it is not his fault, but this matter started nearly two years ago. I would have hoped that he might have been a little more specific rather than just to say that the matter was fairly well advanced. Can he give us any more definite date? Secondly, perhaps I may ask him whether—as he probably knows, I asked about this some two years ago—the following two items are to be included. That is, the extension of codes of practice to traders other than those who are members of associations, and enforcement. Will those be included in the paper?
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, I very much regret that I am unable to help the noble Baroness any further. It is a complex subject which requires very careful consideration. Following the noble Baroness's Question in June 1984, the director general decided to convene a seminar on the topic, which was held later that year. He is now in the process of evaluating all that he has learnt. Regarding the second question, I understand that the paper will review relevant areas of law and the experience of the Office of Fair Trading on codes of practice.
Lord Bruce of DoningtonMy Lords, can the noble Lord give the House some indication of the difficulties 1278 in which the Government have found themselves in this matter? After all, two years is a rather long time. Can the noble Lord isolate those areas concerning which some difficulties have been experienced before the discussion paper is in fact issued? Surely, it should not be delayed very much longer.
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, the Government do not find themselves in any difficulties whatsoever in this matter. The Director General of Fair Trading has authority under the Fair Trading Act to attend to those matters. It is for him, not for government, to set the time scales. I understand that the paper is well advanced and I expect that the noble Lord opposite will not have to wait too much longer before it is published.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, will the Minister let me know when it might be useful to put down another Question when publication is imminent?
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, I do not think that the noble Baroness needs advice from me as to when she should put down a Question.