§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will take action to regulate the activities of organisations and individuals purporting to act on behalf of motorists and others in respect of claims for damages which lay down a percentage charge and bind the claimant to accept any settlement reached, while reserving the right to discontinue the claim at any time notwithstanding their receipt of a registration fee for such services from the claimant as a precondition for acting on his or her behalf, an example of which has been forwarded by the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley.
§ Mr. John FraserI have been asked to reply.
I have not seen sufficient information about these activities to form a view. I am however bringing the example which my hon. Friend has forwarded for the attention of the Director General of Fair Trading, who has a duty to keep commercial activities under review in order to identify consumer trade practices which may be harmful to consumers' economic interests.
734Wmanufactures, foodstuffs, precious stones and crude oil; and what are the figures for December 1977 to February 1978 at an annual rate.
§ Mr. Meacher,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 22nd March 1978], gave the following information:
The United Kingdom crude trade balances with the EEC Six are as follows: