§ Lord Merrivaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
What consultations have taken place with the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), its Retail Agents' Council and its Tour Operators' Council, as well as with the Office of Fair Trading, (a) with a view to a ruling to the effect that package holiday tour operators should quote in their brochures fully inclusive prices so as to include all known airport taxes and security charges; and (b) regarding the incorporation, in the Price Marking (VAT and Ancillary Charges) Order, of a requirement that airport taxes and security charges should 286WA be included within the main price panels of these brochures.
§ Lord CockfieldThe Director-General of Fair Trading encouraged ABTA to draw up a code of conduct for its members when dealing with consumers. This requires brochures to contain clear information about the total price or means of arriving at the total price together with a clear statement of the services included, the date on which the price was calculated and the conditions under which it may be amended.
Last July the Department of Trade sought the views of interested parties about the proposed Price Marking (VAT and Ancillary Charges) Order. This would require traders who quoted prices for goods or services available to consumers either to quote a fully inclusive price or if they quoted any other price to quote as prominently as and adjacent to that price the amount in money terms payable in respect of value added tax, any other taxes and any ancillary charges. The Government are now giving careful consideration to the views which have been expressed.
Pending completion of this consideration, the Director-General has recently asked that tour operators when preparing their summer 1983 brochures will either consolidate airport taxes and security charges into the basic holiday price or will show them separately as prominently as the basic price and displayed close to it. ABTA has drawn its members attention to the Director-General's suggestion.