§ Mr. HawkinsTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to prevent the EC draft directive currently under consideration which would prevent holidaymakers sending deposits in advance to book hotel and guest house rooms from being implemented in a way which would have the effect of preventing the normal trading operations of Britain's hoteliers, self-catering and guest house operators.
§ Mr. McLoughlin[holding answer 28 October 1993]: The United Kingdom has made clear, during the discussion of the draft distance selling directive in Brussels, its opposition to the provision which would ban prepayments in the case of contracts negotiated at a distance. There can be no question of our agreeing to the directive so long as this provision remains.