§ Mr. Gordon PrenticeTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that widescreen televisions sold in the UK are clearly labelled to distinguish whether they are digital or analogue. [135908]
§ Dr. HowellsConsumers should be able to make an informed choice between buying an integrated digital television and an analogue television with a set top box in order to receive digital broadcasts. The Trade Descriptions Act 1968 prohibits false or misleading descriptions of products—whether by means of a label or by any other means, such as an oral statement. It would therefore be an offence to describe a television set falsely and, if there are instances where traders are misdescribing analogue TVs as digital, I would urge consumers to get in touch with their local trading standards department. My Department is contacting the Local Authorities Co-Ordinating Body on Food and Trading Standards (Lacots) to establish the nature and extent of any problem in this area.