HL Deb 06 February 1991 vol 525 cc1155-6

Baroness Burton of Coventry asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have yet received a communication to the Council of Consumer Ministers from the Consumer Policy Service of the European Commission on ways in which consumer interests might be taken into account in other common EC policies.

Viscount Astor

My Lords, I am disappointed to say that since the first report in 1987 no further communication has yet been received from the European Commission on the subject of the integration of consumer interests into other common EC policies. I understand that the Commission is now planning to submit a report in June this year.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, I am glad that the noble Viscount is disappointed. I think that the Answer that he has had to give today is quite disgraceful. Ever since 1987 the European Commission has made no effort to give consumer interests their due place in the Community. I know that this is not his subject but following 1987 Commissioner Van Miert has said that he would produce a set of proposals by the end of 1990. Is the Minister in a position to say why there has been this delay? Is it the antagonism of other commissioners or has Mr. Van Miert lost interest?

Viscount Astor

My Lords, I can only say again that we are very disappointed by the lack of progress made by the Commission since the first council resolution. We have taken every available opportunity to press the Commission to progress this issue and produce a report.

Baroness Ewart-Biggs

My Lords, I congratulate the Government on the pressure that they are putting on the European Commission. Nevertheless, does the noble Viscount agree that a wide range of consumer interests might well be advantaged if each member state nominated a consumer representative to the Economic and Social Committee? Can he tell the House whether Her Majesty's Government made such a nomination in 1990?

Viscount Astor

My Lords, that point is certainly worth considering. I shall pass it on to the Secretary of State.

Lord Mackie of Benshie

My Lords, will the noble Viscount tell the House how much the consumers are suffering—though perhaps one has only to look at the Front Bench? My figures, produced by the OECD, clearly show that consumers need to work for far less time—in fact, many fewer minutes—to buy their food than they did 10 years ago.

Viscount Astor

My Lords, that may be the case. It is difficult to establish.

Lord Williams of Elvel

My Lords, will the noble Viscount be good enough to answer the second question put by my noble friend Lady Ewart-Biggs? Did Her Majesty's Government make any nomination to that committee in 1990?

Viscount Astor

My Lords, I am afraid that I do not know the answer to that question. I shall write to the noble Lord.

Lord Elton

My Lords, does the inability of Her Majesty's Government to produce movement in the Commission, or any part of it, have any lessons for Her Majesty's Government with regard to the answerability of members of the Commission or any part of it? Should such lessons be incorporated in any review of the way in which the Community is run?

Viscount Astor

My Lords, my noble friend makes an important point which we all take on board.

Lord Tordoff

My Lords, does the noble Viscount agree that it would be a good idea if the European Parliament were strengthened in order that those people could be made more responsible?

Viscount Astor

My Lords, that is a problem for the European Commission and the council rather than the European Parliament.

Baroness Burton of Coventry

My Lords, may we hope anyway that our Minister will make strong representations on this matter? We just go on and on. Does the noble Viscount feel that there is the slightest point in our asking what it is proposed to do in June when we have not been able to achieve anything over the past two years?

Viscount Astor

My Lords, we shall go on and on and on pressurising the Commission.

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