Consumer Protection (Hansard, 16 July 1986)

§ Mr. Howard

Initiatives on a wide range of issues of consumer interest arc current in hand. The Government intend, as soon as parliamentary time allows, to introduce legislation to establish a general prohibition of misleading price indications, a general safety requirement and provisions to implement the European Community directive on product liability. Before the end of the year I shall be placing before the House draft regulations implementing the recent European Community directive on misleading advertising. Over the coming months I shall also be placing before the House draft regulations on electrical plugs and sockets; the surface temperature of cookers; the safety of gas cookers; on asbestos products; and on unsolicited goods.

My Department has recently issued a consultation document on our proposals for the implementation of the European Community directive on doorstep selling and will shortly be completing a review of the existing legislation on pyramid selling which I expect to result in proposals for strengthening and simplifying that legislation. Next year we will be considering possible changes in the legislation on supply of goods and services which may be necessary when the expected report from the Law Commissions on this subject is received.

A number of consumer issues, including toy safety, a review of the notification system for unsafe projects and a draft directive on consumer credit, are being progressed in the European Community where I shall be chairing a meeting of the Council of Ministers to discuss these and other questions on 29 October.