MARKET FRANCHISE RIGHTS

HL Deb 18 October 1994 vol 558 c6WA

Lord Brougham and

Vaux asked Her Majesty's Government:

What proposals for provisions in the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill they are bringing forward on market franchise rights.

Viscount Ullswater

Following the decision to withdraw the then Clauses 22, 23 and 24 on market franchise rights from the Bill, my right honourable friend the then Minister for Industry expressed the hope that the Government would be able to come forward at a later stage with fresh proposals on the deregulation of market franchise rights which enjoyed a widespread measure of support among interested parties.

The Government remain of the view that the common law on market franchise rights is antiquated. Interested parties do not dispute that the law needs revision, but say that any review would need to be more considered.

In view, however, of the very short time remaining for consideration of the Deregulation and Contracting Out Bill in Parliament the Government is; not intending to make changes to existing law in the context of the current Bill.