§ Mr. BarnesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, pursuant to her answer of 25 March 2002,Official Report, column 695W, on trading scheme exemptions, whether her Department determines that an individual or a company is operating a UK master franchise in a trading scheme via inspection of the contract between (a) the franchisor and the UK master franchise and (b) the UK master franchise and its franchisees; and if she will make a statement. [54507]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson[holding answer 7 May 20021]: The Department does not routinely inspect trading scheme contracts or advise individuals on them.
Schemes will vary but the precise nature of the contractual arrangements concluded between scheme members will be a relevant factor in the application of regulatory controls in any given case.