§ 18. Mr. TruswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to increase the protection of consumers against dishonest traders. [95841]
§ Dr. HowellsThe White Paper "Modern Markets: Confident Consumers" published in July set out our proposals to introduce much clearer targeting of dishonest traders and specific unfair trade practices by amending the Fair Trading Act 1973. In particular, we intend to provide a power for the courts to grant injunctions against specified practices carried out by specified traders, a power for the courts to ban from trading for a period traders with a history of disregarding their legal obligations, and a power to make orders by secondary legislation to specify that certain unfair practices should become criminal offences.