HC Deb 02 December 1997 vol 302 cc160-1W
Mr. Chidgey

To ask the President of the Board of Trade, pursuant to her Answer of 19 November 1997,Official Report, column 192, if she will list (a) the possible options for consumer protection which the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs has discussed with the Director General of Fair Trading regarding pre-paid funerals and (b) the actions further to protect consumers which she is discussing with Treasury ministers; and if she will make a statement. [18038]

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

[holding answer 27 November 1997]: I have discussed a number of options with the Director-General of Fair Trading, and with Treasury Ministers.

There are two possible approaches to this issue. One would be to introduce a completely new regulatory regime, for the pre-paid funerals sector. The other involves bringing pre-paid funerals under an existing regulatory regime. Whichever approach is chosen, our objectives are to ensure that there will be sufficient financial provision available so that those consumers who have purchased their funerals in advance get the funerals for which they have paid, and to address the questions of transparency in marketing practices. Consideration of the various options is continuing at official level. It would be premature to make any further statement at this stage.