§ Mr. CranTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what plans he has to empower trading standards officers to inspect used vehicles for sale on garage forecourts for roadworthiness; and what further steps he plans to take to deter the practice of clocking by used car dealers.
§ Mr. AtkinsFollowing a meeting which took place in December 1987 when my hon. Friends the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Corporate and Consumer Affairs and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport met a delegation led by the Director General of Fair Trading, the director general set up a working party to examine these and other matters in greater detail. I understand that the director general's working party is aiming to produce a report on its findings in the autumn. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport and I will study the working party's report when it is available.