§ Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what action he has taken following the Price Commission's report on the distribution of domestic coal and solid smokeless fuel.
§ Mr. MaclennanFollowing the publication of this report, my officials have held discussions with interested bodies, and agreement has now been reached about the introduction of a voluntary code of practice by the trade. This is in response to one of the main recommendations of the Price Commission report, that there should be fuller consumer information about fuel prices.
The code of practice provides in general for clear price display at all commercial premises where customers may buy or place orders for fuel, as well as on vehicles hawking fuel for sale. This is a significant step forward for consumers in the retail sale of domestic fuels. The code of practice, although voluntary, will be strongly reinforced by being included as a condition of the Approved Coal Merchants' Scheme. I am grateful to 476W the trade for its willing co-operation with my Department in preparing and bringing the code into effect.