§ Ms. WalleyTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation requiring vehicle manufacturers to adopt European Community motor traders guidelines relating to advertising of cars; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SainsburyNo. I do not consider that any additional controls are necessary at the present time over and above those contained in the British code of advertising practice administered by the Advertising Standards Authority. The code requires that all advertisements in the printed media are legal, decent, honest and truthful.
The ASA monitors car advertising for compliance with the code on a regular basis, paying particular attention to claims relating to speed, power, acceleration and performance. Its latest survey in April 1992 confirmed an overall improvement in compliance of car advertising with the British code of advertising practice.