SI 2009/1346. Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2) to (5).

SI 2009/1346. Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2) to (5).

SI 2009/1347. Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Coming into force 23 June 2009.

SI 2009/1347. Together with an explanatory memorandum from the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Coming into force 23 June 2009.

Letter dated 21/05/2009 from Gareth Thomas MP to Lord Roper regarding EU competitiveness council. 2 p.

Letter dated 21/05/2009 from Gareth Thomas MP to Lord Roper regarding EU competitiveness council. 2 p.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on consumer rights.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on consumer rights.

I shall consider the hon. Lady's suggestion when working on the White Paper, but, if she will forgive me, I make no promises. With that, I again congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith on securing the debate, and I look forward to the opportunity presented...

I shall consider the hon. Lady's suggestion when working on the White Paper, but, if she will forgive me, I make no promises. With that, I again congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith on securing the debate, and I look forward to the opportunity presented...

I accept in principle the point that the hon. Gentleman makes. We want to take action to increase our capacity to crack down on rogues—be they loan sharks, those perpetuating scams or those operating on the internet. I referred to our additional investment in scambuster teams, which are beginning to...

I accept in principle the point that the hon. Gentleman makes. We want to take action to increase our capacity to crack down on rogues—be they loan sharks, those perpetuating scams or those operating on the internet. I referred to our additional investment in scambuster teams, which are beginning to...

Will the Minister comment on my suggestion of a register of administrators to help businesses seeking to trade with other companies to assess the risk-worthiness of such trade and to establish whether there might be any serial liquidators? That suggestion was made to me by an industry body and I...

Will the Minister comment on my suggestion of a register of administrators to help businesses seeking to trade with other companies to assess the risk-worthiness of such trade and to establish whether there might be any serial liquidators? That suggestion was made to me by an industry body and I...

That clarification is helpful. The problem with the legislation is enforcement. We all know about fly-by-night doorstep sellers, and although I am wary and would not expect to be sucked in by such a salesman, many people are; if those people receive faulty goods, how do they know who the...

That clarification is helpful. The problem with the legislation is enforcement. We all know about fly-by-night doorstep sellers, and although I am wary and would not expect to be sucked in by such a salesman, many people are; if those people receive faulty goods, how do they know who the...

The Minister is being generous in giving way. Does he recognise the final point that I made in my speech, which is that it is incumbent on all Government organisations to have people of sufficient expertise to be able to counter the growing world threat of cybercloning and so on—people...

The Minister is being generous in giving way. Does he recognise the final point that I made in my speech, which is that it is incumbent on all Government organisations to have people of sufficient expertise to be able to counter the growing world threat of cybercloning and so on—people...

I have similar concerns, but responsibility has to be taken by local authorities. They have to make a judgment on the service required in the area. As the House would expect, I always hope that local authorities will prioritise support for trading standards and Citizens Advice. Action was taken in...

I have similar concerns, but responsibility has to be taken by local authorities. They have to make a judgment on the service required in the area. As the House would expect, I always hope that local authorities will prioritise support for trading standards and Citizens Advice. Action was taken in...

The Minister mentioned one enforcement agency and one advice agency—trading standards officers and Citizens Advice. In my constituency, although I suspect that it is a national problem, council budgets are being squeezed. The budgets of trading standards officers and consumer advice centres are therefore being squeezed. As a result, they...

The Minister mentioned one enforcement agency and one advice agency—trading standards officers and Citizens Advice. In my constituency, although I suspect that it is a national problem, council budgets are being squeezed. The budgets of trading standards officers and consumer advice centres are therefore being squeezed. As a result, they...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) on securing the debate and on how he campaigns on consumer issues more generally. I also welcome the interest shown by my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) and the...

I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) on securing the debate and on how he campaigns on consumer issues more generally. I also welcome the interest shown by my hon. Friend the Member for Hackney, North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott) and the...

I should perhaps have intervened a little earlier in response to the query by the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Susan Kramer). My understanding of the legislation on doorstep selling is that it offers the same right as in any other case to reject goods if they are not as...

I should perhaps have intervened a little earlier in response to the query by the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Susan Kramer). My understanding of the legislation on doorstep selling is that it offers the same right as in any other case to reject goods if they are not as...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) on introducing this important debate. He has three bees in his bonnet, but lots of other bees are buzzing around on all sorts of consumer protection issues, and I want to address some of those issues in addition...

I congratulate the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) on introducing this important debate. He has three bees in his bonnet, but lots of other bees are buzzing around on all sorts of consumer protection issues, and I want to address some of those issues in addition...

I wish that I could have made a speech, but I have to attend a meeting. Is my hon. Friend aware, however, that the protection available to consumers who make purchases from salespeople who come to their property—the salesman might have come to see them after they answered an advert—is...

I wish that I could have made a speech, but I have to attend a meeting. Is my hon. Friend aware, however, that the protection available to consumers who make purchases from salespeople who come to their property—the salesman might have come to see them after they answered an advert—is...

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman has looked at the ABTA website. I would be interested in his comments on its credo, which is at the top of its website:""For more than 50 years ABTA and its Members have been helping holidaymakers to get the most from their travel...

I am sure that the hon. Gentleman has looked at the ABTA website. I would be interested in his comments on its credo, which is at the top of its website:""For more than 50 years ABTA and its Members have been helping holidaymakers to get the most from their travel...

I am sure that it is true in many, many cases, but the problem is that in this case it was not what happened to my constituent and his family. My constituent did not have that pleasurable experience, and ABTA seemed to have managed to wash its hands of any...

I am sure that it is true in many, many cases, but the problem is that in this case it was not what happened to my constituent and his family. My constituent did not have that pleasurable experience, and ABTA seemed to have managed to wash its hands of any...

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. Will he clarify whether Holyrood Services Ltd is a construction company, or a factoring company?

I congratulate my hon. Friend on securing this debate. Will he clarify whether Holyrood Services Ltd is a construction company, or a factoring company?

I understand that Holyrood Services Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elphinstone, the builders, and not a separate property management or factoring company. It seems to be Elphinstone in another guise, but the eventual contract and deed of conditions was with Holyrood Services Ltd, although the preceding material had come...

I understand that Holyrood Services Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Elphinstone, the builders, and not a separate property management or factoring company. It seems to be Elphinstone in another guise, but the eventual contract and deed of conditions was with Holyrood Services Ltd, although the preceding material had come...

As I said in the previous debate, it is a great pleasure, Mr. Sheridan, to serve under what is I believe your first chairmanship in this Chamber. It is also good to see the Minister; and I congratulate the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) on the...

As I said in the previous debate, it is a great pleasure, Mr. Sheridan, to serve under what is I believe your first chairmanship in this Chamber. It is also good to see the Minister; and I congratulate the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mark Lazarowicz) on the...