HC Deb 20 November 1968 vol 773 cc286-7W
Mr. William Hamilton

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to publicise, in popular and comprehensive form, the terms and implications of the Trade Descriptions Act.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

I am distributing three-quarters of a million copies of a popular leaflet, and a rather more technical article has been published and made available to the periodical trade Press and trade associations.

Mr. William Hamilton

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for publicising in simple layman's language the rights of the consumer under the terms of the Trade Descriptions Act, and the obligations of the food retailer under the same Act.

Mrs. Gwyneth Dunwoody

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer today to his previous Question. The Trade Descriptions Act is part of the criminal law, and designed to protect the consumer from false descriptions. It confers no right of personal redress, which is a matter for the civil law. However, the leaflet about the Act which has been issued by the Board of Trade includes advice on shoppers' complaints and describes the requirements which retailers, including food retailers, have to observe.