§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will introduce amending legislation on trade descriptions so that protection is extended to services as well as goods; whether he will ensure that this would extend to protection against shoddy building services; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Sally OppenheimThe Trade Descriptions Act 1968 already prohibits certain kinds of false statements about the provision of services. However, I am concerned about the number of consumer complaints about shoddy building services, and the Director General of Fair Trading has started a preliminary review of the home improvements sector of the building trade. The services to be reviewed include painting and decorating, plumbing, double glazing, rewiring, roofing, damp proofing, insulation and home extensions. The exercise should enable any major problems to be identified and provide a basis for considering how best they might be tackled.