HL Deb 13 December 1990 vol 524 cc575-7

3.10 p.m.

Baroness Burton of Coventry asked Her Majesty's Government:

What items were discussed at the European Community Council of Ministers' meeting on consumer affairs on 7th December 1990, and what progress was made.

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, the European Council of Ministers' meeting on consumer affairs which had been scheduled for 7th December 1990 was cancelled by the Italian presidency.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, can the Minister say whether the cancellation was due to inadequate preparatory work on the draft directive on product safety? If so, is he aware that the Council of Ministers has already discussed the draft directive four times? If the cancellation was not due to inadequate preparatory work can he tell the House what was the cause?

Can the Minister further say whether he and his fellow Ministers accept the incessant delay which goes on and on? Do they ever protest? Can we be told the date of the next meeting?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, there were several meetings of officials concerned with the general product safety directive during the period just before 7th December. The directive was to be the main item on the agenda. However, the Italians clearly felt that not enough progress had been made to justify a further discussion in council.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, I was about to say that the Minister has not answered half of my questions, but that might put me in the wrong. Can the Minister say whether he and his fellow Ministers ever protest at this incessant delay which goes on and on? Can he tell us the date when these matters will be discussed?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, the decision was made by the Italian presidency. It was its decision to make. The next presidency will be held by Luxembourg. It has to say whether this item will be included on the agenda.

Lord Bruce of Donington

My Lords, in the light of the provisions of Article 39(1) (e) of the Treaty of Rome, can the Minister give the House an assurance that when the Council of Ministers dealing with consumer affairs next meets it will deal with the question —as required by treaty—of the prices paid by the consumer for agricultural products? Has the British Minister dealing with consumer affairs had the opportunity of reading the report of the National Consumer Council of the United Kingdom? The report was prepared under the distinguished chairmanship of the Minister's noble friend Lady Oppenheim-Barnes: it deals with food prices and the common agricultural policy.

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, it is always a treat to see the noble Lord, Lord Bruce of Donington, holding a copy of the treaty in his hand. Although I read the report to which the noble Lord referred in my previous incarnation as the Minister for consumer affairs, his point is somewhat wide of the Question on the Order Paper.

Baroness Ewart-Biggs

My Lords, has the Minister received representations about the draft directive on product safety from the consumer organisations? If so, can he say whether their representations will form part of government policy? If that is not the case, can the Minister say why?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, in my previous role I received representations from those with interests in consumer affairs and in the European dimension. The problems concerning the negotiations involve matters that go beyond the question of whether subsidiarity is part of the difficulties which we face.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, some of the documents and data referred to by my noble friend Lord Bruce of Donington are at the heart of the issue of consumer affairs. In those circumstances can the noble Lord say why he considers them to be somewhat wide of a Question which deals wholly with consumer affairs?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, the Question refers specifically to the general product safety directive which is entirely different to the common agricultural policy.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, am I correct in assuming that if the Minister had protested at the delay he would have been only too pleased to have told the House? Will the Minister inform the House whether our own Ministers have ever protested at the delay? Is it their intention to do anything about it or simply to sit there and do nothing?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, the cancellation was a unilateral decision taken by the Italian presidency. That decision was taken before there was any possibility of our protesting.

Lord Bruce of Donington

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that he was not entirely correct in saying that the Question did not deal specifically with consumer affairs and that it was restricted to the matters raised by the noble Baroness? Does he not agree that the Question deals with consumer affairs generally and that I was quite in order to put the question that I did?

Lord Hesketh

My Lords, this is one of the very rare occasions when I beg to differ with the noble Lord, Lord Bruce of Donington.