HL Deb 16 July 1987 vol 488 cc1151-3

3.2 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 make a statement on the matters discussed, and the progress made, at the meetings of the European Consumer Affairs Council held on 7th April and 10th June.

The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (Lord Young of Graffham)

My Lords, on 10th June the Consumer Affairs Council continued progress made on 7th April and agreed a directive to harmonise legislation prohibiting novelty products which are made or packaged to appear like food or drink, and could be dangerous, especially to children. It also reached agreement in principle on a directive to provide common rules for toy safety throughout the Community.

Among other matters, the council also agreed resolutions responding to Commission reports on consumer access to justice, and on a possible general product safety obligation at Community level. The Commission will be undertaking further work on both subjects.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that information. Is it not correct that the council also discussed a Commission proposal for a child safety campaign? If that is correct, can the Minister tell the House what steps the Government are taking in advance of the Commission's proposals to make their own contribution to the EC child safety campaign in 1988, and whether the Government will be discussing those proposals with the voluntary organisations to see what they can do together?

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, any government should do all they reasonably can to reduce the number of accidents to children. The Government have made clear their readiness to participate in some form of child safety campaign provided that it is reasonably well thought through and properly targeted. I must confess that there are considerable doubts whether it is sensible to try to run a child safety campaign from Brussels when so much emphasis needs to be given to local initiatives and to direct contact, but we shall approach the discussions in Brussels constructively.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, as progress is now being made towards a completed internal market, does the Minister agree that it is absolutely essential to get at the earliest possible date a general product safety directive that is in line with our own legislation? What action will the United Kingdom Government take to make this a reality?

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, the Government have already introduced a general safety requirement under the Consumer Protection Act 1987. Therefore we support in principle the concept of a general safety duty. We have undertaken to approach the discussions with the Commission on this difficult and complex issue in a constructive way. We must see how much further we can take it, accepting the need for such a duty.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, if I may follow up that point, my understanding is that at the present rate of progress it would be at least two years before there was a real discussion on a directive. I am asking whether Her Majesty's Government can do anything to hurry it up other than just agreeing in principle.

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, the internal market has a target date of 1991 or 1992. We have already introduced a general safety requirement under the Consumer Protection Act of this year. It is important that we should proceed on a Europe-wide basis and we shall be taking the matter up with Brussels.

Lord Sainsbury

My Lords, can the Minister report any progress on the unit pricing directive which to my knowledge has been in the pipeline for the best part of 10 years?

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, although the Government still have a reservation on the matter the council has now reached broad agreement on the general principles which should apply to unit pricing of prepackaged goods. I would expect the remaining points of difficulty to be resolved fairly quickly and this should enable proposals to be adopted by the end of this year.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, perhaps I may ask the Minister one further question. Is he aware—as I feel he probably is—that there was considerable anxiety among the consumer organisations and the relevant Select Committee of your Lordships' House about the ineffectiveness of the Consumer Consultative Committee? On 12th February the Government told me in an Answer in this House that they accepted that the present consultative conditions were not satisfactory. While appreciating the workload of the Minister, does he feel that during the recess he could look at this matter so that perhaps we might make progress on our return?

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, it is the proper attitude of all consumer organisations to express anxiety about the state of the world. I shall certainly look at that matter during the recess and see what can be done.

Earl Alexander of Tunis

My Lords, will my noble friend not take more robust action against those manufacturers of items that look like sweets but are anything but sweets? It appears that manufacturers have no concept of how easily children are led to put these things into their mouths.

Lord Young of Graffham

My Lords, the purpose of the directive was to harmonise legislation. I hope that we shall make progress.