Unfair Consumer Contracts Directive (Hansard, 22 June 1994)

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what specific consultations he had with industry prior to the finalisation of the EC unfair consumer contracts directive about the content of that directive.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
[holding answer 20 June 1994]: We consulted extensively with industry, and with other interested parties, on the text of the draft directive as soon as it became available. The comments that we received were taken into account during the subsequent negotiations.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the EC unfair consumer contracts directive applies to real property transactions; and whether the United Kingdom legislation required to implement the directive will distinguish between real and personal property.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
[holding answer 20 June 1994]: The Government's view is that the unfair contract terms directive does not apply to the sale of real property, though it would apply to any secondary transactions. It is not intended in the implementing regulations to distinguish between real and personal property.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what information he has concerning the differences between the European Commission's understanding of the term "goods" in connection with the EC unfair consumer contracts directive and the definition of the term in United Kingdom law; how any discrepancy between the two understandings of the terms will be resolved; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
[holding answer 20 June 1994]: I am not aware of any such differences. There is no general definition of what constitutes goods in United Kingdom law.

§ Mr. Nicholas Winterton
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received from trade associations in the financial services sector, the manufacturing sector, and the house-building sector concerning the EC unfair consumer contracts directive; and what plans he has to meet a group representing trade associations in those sectors to discuss the directive.

§ Mr. McLoughlin
[holding answer 20 June 1994]: My Department has received 87 responses to its consultation paper on the implementation of the unfair contract terms 230W directive. These include a number from trade associations in the financial services, manufacturing and construction sectors. I have no current plans to meet any trade associations from those sectors, but a number of meetings have been held with my officials.