§ Mr. Maclennanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he has had, and with which organisations, on a new general prohibition on misleading price indications and on a supporting statutory code of practice; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HowardMy Department has consulted a wide range of trade, consumer and enforcement interests, with helpful and encouraging results. Over 500 copies of the report of the interdepartmental working party on the review of legislation on this subject were circulated in 1984. In the light of comments received in response from approximately 150 sources, the Government's decision to go ahead with new legislation, providing a general prohibition on misleading price indications with a supporting statutory code of practice, was announced in March 1985. A first draft of the proposed code of practice was sent out in July 1985 to some 200 organisations, of whom about 75 responded. In the light of their comments a second draft of the code of practice was sent out in January this year to 240 organisations, of which 60 have responded with their comments. At each stage my officials have held discussions with a number of respondents who wished to expand on their submissions. The draft code is currently being further revised taking those comments into account and I then expect it to be in a form ready to accompany proposals to Parliament for the relevant legislation which will be introduced as soon as parliamentary time is available.