HL Deb 15 December 1992 vol 541 cc32-3WA
Lord Mason of Barnsley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will consider appointing an ombudsman to deal with consumers' complaints arising from the licensed trade.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Baroness Denton of Wakefield)

The Government have no plans to appoint an ombudsman to deal with consumers' complaints from the licensed trade. However, the Director-General of Fair Trading already has a statutory duty under the Fair Trading Act 1973 to monitor the market.

Lord Mason of Barnsley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have received any reports in the last two years from the local authority committee on trading standards or the Consumers Association on any surveys carried out by them into the practice of licensed premises selling beer, lager and wine in short measures; whether they are satisfied that the licensed trade code of conduct is still in operation; and to what extent they expect the code to be observed until the amended Intoxicating Liquor Order takes legislative effect.

Baroness Denton of Wakefield

The Government received a letter in February 1992 from the Local Authorities co-ordinating body on trading standards reporting the results of surveys on sales of beer in short measure. We have not received any reports in the last two years on sales of wine in short measure. The licensed trade codes of conduct remain in operation. However, it is partly because compliance with the code on wine has been disappointing that the Intoxicating Liquor Order has been amended.

Lord Mason of Barnsley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will commission the local authority committee on trading standards to carry out a national survey of licensed premises to assess compliance with the licensed trade codes of conduct in respect of providing the legal measures of beer, lager and wine.

Baroness Denton of Wakefield

The Government have made legislation on the measures to be used for serving beer, including lager, and wine which will come into effect on 1st April 1994 and 1st January 1995 respectively. We have no plans to commission a survey of trade practice in the interim.