§ Baroness Burton of Coventry asked Her Majesty's Government:
§ What items were discussed at the European Community Consumer Affairs Council on 13th June and what progress was made.
§ The Minister of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Trefgarne)My Lords, the Council on 13th June adopted the package travel directive. It considered and agreed to extend the system for the rapid exchange of information on consumer products; the matter being remitted to COREPER to consider further detailed procedures. It agreed in principle to extend the European home and leisure accident surveillance system. There was also discussion of the proposed general product safety directive and the Commission presented its three-year plan for consumer policy in the EC.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, as regards product safety, does the Minister recall that a year ago at the Council meeting held on 1st June the Commission's proposal on product safety was discussed and referred back? Am I not correct in thinking that at the meeting on 13th June the same procedure was adopted; namely, that the directive was again discussed and again referred back to the same committee? Has the Minister read the excellent report of our own Select Committee on product safety which states:
There is clear evidence that a lack of harmonised safety rules disrupts trade across borders"?What do the Government feel about this delay, and can the Minister say what they propose to do to hasten matters?
§ Lord TrefgarneMy Lords, I am aware of the Select Committee's report to which the noble Baroness referred. As regards the draft directive, as the noble Baroness will be aware we believe that it still contains a number of shortcomings. That is why we believe that further work needs to be done on it before it can be taken forward.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, that does not get us very far. Does the Minister not agree that 12 months has been enough time to look at the report? Can he give us any hope that, when it is considered again, it will not be referred back again? Can he also say when the next meeting of the Council will be?
§ Lord TrefgarneMy Lords, the question of whether progress can be carried forward on this matter 1722 depends on whether improvements can be made on this issue. We are not in favour of the draft directive as it at present exists.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, can the Minister give me the date of the next Council meeting?
§ Lord TrefgarneMy Lords, I do not have that information in front of me. I shall ascertain the date and let the noble Baroness know.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, I wish to raise another matter—
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, I wish to ask the Minister about consumer integration. On 29th June 1989 the Government told the House that they fully approved and supported consumer interests being taken fully into account in other Community policies. Can the Minister tell me what specific proposals were put forward on 13th June?
§ Lord TrefgarneMy Lords, I recited at some length the topics that were considered at the Council meeting to which the noble Baroness referred. If she is now referring to the Commission's three-year plan on consumer policy, I can best describe that as being something like the curate's egg.
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, if the House will allow me—
§ Baroness Burton of CoventryMy Lords, is the Minister aware that I agree with his description of the three-year plan? I was not muddling the two. Consumer integration was discussed on 13th June. Can the Minister say whether any specific proposals were put forward?
§ Lord TrefgarneMy Lords, I am not sure that I can elaborate further on the lengthy original Answer that I gave on this matter. If there is any further information on the topic that the noble Baroness raised I shall write to her.