HC Deb 14 July 1997 vol 298 cc72-3W
Mrs. Gillan

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if the recent speeches made by the Minister for Competition and Consumer Affairs,(a) Antwerp and (b) in Athens represent Government policy. [7408]

Mrs. Beckett

[holding 9 July 1997]: The Speech made by my hon. Friend to the Institute of Trading Standards Administration Conference in Antwerp set out both the actions already set in hand and future intentions concerning measures to improve consumer protection and as such was fully in line with Government policy in this area. My hon. Friend did not make a speech in Athens—he participated in a panel session at a conference organised by the Institute of Travel and Tourism. Among the issues raised in that discussion was vertical integration in the travel industry, which my hon. Friend correctly pointed out was still under investigation by the MMC.