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Confident Consumers

The last time I spoke in the House, some three years ago, Mr. Deputy Speaker, you were in the chair. Let me say welcome back. Members of the House may be aware that this is my first undertaking on the Floor of the House since taking up my new role in the Department of Trade and Industry and the Foreign Office. These have been a few busy days. I am currently juggling some of my previous undertakings as Minister without Portfolio with my Foreign Office responsibilities, plus sections of the briefs of three previous DTI Ministers. I feel that I have moved from being the Minister without Portfolio to the Minister with all portfolios. It is pretty hectic. You might say I am becoming the Minister for Open All Hours. Let me put on record my thanks to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, South (Mr. Sutcliffe) who puts his heart and soul into everything he does. This Government’s proud record on consumer action is in large part down to his passion, commitment, drive and dedication. I wish him the very best in his new role in the Home Office. I have had a long-term interest in consumer affairs, both in opposition and government. In opposition, I was involved in the campaign to prevent deaths caused by dangerous foam furniture. The current chairman of the Conservative party was the then Minister, and I give him credit for the action that he took jointly with me, which has led to some 10,000 lives being saved since the introduction of the legislation. New legislation was also introduced, with the help of a former Conservative Member for York who lost his seat in 1997—it is still a Labour constituency—to ensure that smoke alarms were fitted in all new property. It also required that all old property for rehabilitation had to have such alarms fitted. Local authorities up and down the country have spent tens of millions of pounds, with Government support, to ensure that all houses have smoke alarms fitted. That legislation has also saved many lives since its introduction.