§ Mr. McCrindleTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints he has received concerning misleading advertisements; and if he has any plans to amend the Control of Misleading Advertisement Regulations 1988.
§ Mr. ForthMy Department does not keep records of such complaints. Anyone complaining to the Department about an advertisement whether in respect of misleadingness or otherwise is referred to the appropriate advertising control authority: usually the Advertising Standards Authority or local trading standards department. Complaints about misleading advertisements which cannot be satisfactorily resolved by the authorities may be referred to the Director General of Fair Trading under the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988. I will ask the director general to write to the hon. Member about the number of complaints he has received.
I have no plans to amend the regulations.