Written question asked by Vincent Cable (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 14 November 2000, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 21 November 2000. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Tuesday, 21 November 2000 on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.

Dept of Trade and Industry

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, what steps he is taking to ensure that advertising standards to protect consumers are applied to internet retailing on the same basis as they are to other forms of retail business.

Answer: Dr. Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to ensure that advertising standards to protect consumers are applied to internet retailing on the same basis as they are to other forms of retail business. [138842] Dr. Howells: The 1988 Control of Misleading Advertisements Regulations and the 1968 Trade Descriptions Act already apply to internet advertising in the same way that they apply to other forms of advertising. It is therefore illegal to apply a false or misleading description to goods or services advertised on the internet and the Director General of Fair Trading can seek an injunction to prevent the continued publication of a misleading advertisement on the internet. The Advertising Standards Authority is also able to rule on complaints about internet advertisements, and the Committee of Advertising Practice--the industry body which writes the British Codes of Advertising Practice and Sales Promotion--recently launched its admark scheme which will enable browsers to identify advertisements placed by advertisers who have agreed to comply with the Codes of Practice and to be bound by the ASA's rulings.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 357 c106-7W; 138842
Session: 1999-00
Subjects: Advertising Internet Misrepresentation Trade descriptions Advertising Standards Authority
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk