§ 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 they will make a statement on the meeting of the European Council of Consumer Affairs Ministers held on 29th October and, in particular, the progress made in securing recognition of consumers' interests in all relevant areas of Community policy.
§ Lord BeaverbrookMy Lords, the Consumer Council was successful. In particular, the council agreed a resolution which underlines that consumers' interests must be taken more fully into account when the Commission drafts proposals for Community legislation. The resolution lists a number of specific factors which the Commission should investigate when assessing proposals from the consumer viewpoint, and asks the Commission to confirm for relevant proposals that it has in fact done so. The resolution also stresses the need for effective consultation with consumers. The Commission is to report on progress by December 1987.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, I congratulate the Government on the UK initiative which produced the resolution and thereby salvaged quite a lot from the wreckage of the Commission paper. May I ask the Minister, with regard to the Commisssion being asked to report back in a year's time, whether he is aware that the paper prepared by the Commission was not what the Council asked for? Is he further aware that no definite recommendations were made in it? Finally, is he aware that the section dealing with the Consumers' Consultative Committee ignored entirely the report of your Lordships' House on EC consumer policy? Therefore will it be possible for the Minister to bring to the attention of Ministers the points I have made and perhaps we may return to the matter on a future occasion?
§ Lord BeaverbrookMy Lords, I thank the noble Baroness for her questions. The Government accept the finding of the Select Committee on the European Communities that present consultation arrangements with consumers are not satisfactory. However, the new resolution underlines the necessity for effective and duly representative consultation of consumers. The resolution calls on the Commission to investigate the impact of proposals on the price of goods or services, on their quality, their safety, the range of choice available to consumers and the state of competition in the market. I undertake to convey the remarks of the noble Baroness accordingly.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, is the Minister aware that the House appreciates, as I do, the way in which he has coped with this Question? But will he ask the Ministers to realise that unless their initiative is followed up we shall get nowhere? These matters drag on in the Commission year after year. Will he stress the necessity for enforcing a follow-up?
§ Lord BeaverbrookMy Lords, the Government will press the Commission to implement the words and the spirit of this resolution conscientously and effectively. The Commission is to make a progress report, as I have already said, at the end of next year.
§ Baroness NicolMy Lords, is the Minister aware that during the discussions attention was drawn to the delay in reaching a decision on dangerous products, especially dangerous toys? Are the Government prepared to take action by themselves on toy safety, especially in this season? Is the Minister aware that we are almost daily hearing of imported dangerous toys being on sale in this country?
§ Lord BeaverbrookYes, my Lords, I agree. Safety of toys should be of primary concern to all member states. The United Kingdom has taken every opportunity during its presidency to press for rapid action, but only recently has a revised draft directive been submitted by the Commission as a basis for negotiation. However, the directive is now on the table and working level discussions are under way. The Government are urgently seeking the views of all interested parties on these proposals.