TrustUK (Hansard, 13 April 2000)

§ Dr. Cable
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the consumer launch of TrustUK will be promoted to UK consumers. [118775]

§ Dr. Howells
The consumer launch is being handled by TrustUK who are currently exploring options and developing a media planning strategy. The launch will take place in central London.

§ Dr. Cable
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the consumer launch of TrustUK will take place. [118776]

§ Dr. Howells
The consumer launch is expected to take place in June.

§ Dr. Cable
To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the consumer protection provided by the monitoring standards set out in TrustUK. [118777]

§ Dr. Howells
TrustUK's criteria require e-commerce code owners to carry out effective monitoring to ensure that traders comply with the codes to which they subscribe. The criteria require monitoring to be carried out independently and with integrity and objectivity. Monitoring work must be capable of being externally verified. TrustUK will be developing statistically robust monitoring techniques.
TrustUK's criteria allow a degree of flexibility as to how monitoring is performed. The Government believe this approach, combined with effective enforcement and sanctions, should provide adequate consumer protection. At the same time it gives code owners some choice about the kind of monitoring procedures they adopt. The Government believe that codes should be flexible instruments, capable of evolving in response to market developments. TrustUK is developing a transparent procedure for keeping its criteria under review.