§ Baroness Burton of Coventryasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in elaboration of their reply to Baroness Burton of Coventry's starred Question on 6th March, they will inform the House of the contents of the statement made by the European Commission on 18th December last concerning the development of the European Community's consumer protection policy over the last few years.
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthCommissioner Narjes' statement, on the eve of his handing over the consumer protection portfolio to Mr. Clinton Davis, was a personal reflection on both the work carried out by the previous Commission and how the new Commission might continue this work.
His statement recalled that the Community's consumer policy drew its inspiration from a concern to protect the consumer and to contribute to the working of the internal market through the elimination of barriers to trade. It also recalled the impetus given to consumer policy through the several discussions of matters of consumer interest at Council meetings and the adoption of measures such as the Directive on Misleading Advertising, the decision to introduce a system for the rapid exchange of information about dangerous consumer products and the pilot scheme for information on accidents.
Herr Narjes also looked to the future development of consumer policy in the context of both a "people's Europe" and an improved integration of consumer matters with other Community policies.
In view of the interest shown in this document, I am arranging for a copy of it to be deposited in the Library of the House.