§ Mr. KidneyTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce controls over consumer marketing to ensure that information given or implied is not misleading or easily misconstrued. [56072]
§ Dr. HowellsThere are already many controls to ensure that the marketing activities of companies are not misleading. Under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968 it is a criminal offence to apply, in the course of a trade or business, false or misleading statements to goods and to knowingly or recklessly do so in respect of services. The self-regulatory system of advertising and sales promotion control, backed up by the possibility of action by the Director General of Fair Trading under the Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations 1988, is also designed to prevent false or misleading information in advertisements and other promotional material. In190W visual impact of signs but other parties raised this issue and it was considered by the Inspector at the public local inquiry into the scheme.
I understand that my right hon. Friend has received the Inspector's Report and is considering it.