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10 Nov 2003 : Column 22W—continued
Cold Calling
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what regulatory framework protects the public from cold callers; and what plans the Government has for further regulation of the practice of cold calling. [136598]
Mr. Timms: The regulatory framework for unsolicited direct marketing by phone currently gives individual subscribers the right to opt-out of sales calls if they do not wish to receive them. Under the Telecommunications (Data Protection and Privacy) Regulations 1999 (which will shortly be replaced by the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003), no-one may make a sales call to a subscriber who has previously notified them that they do not wish to receive such calls from them, or who has been registered with the Telephone Preference Service for twenty-eight days or more.
Both the Distance Selling Regulations and the Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded away from Business Premises) Regulations provide rights to consumers over distance and doorstep selling. The Distance Selling Regulations require that consumers are provided with clear, comprehensible information about the goods or services offered. Where a business uses cold calling by telephone to sell to consumers, the caller must clearly identify the business they represent and the commercial purpose of the call at the start of a conversation. The Regulations also provide for a seven-day cooling off period (except for certain goods and services which are excluded) in which to withdraw from any contract.
The Consumer Protection (Cancellation of Contracts Concluded away from Business Premises) Regulations, commonly known as the "doorstep selling regulations" provide the right to a seven day cooling-off period during which an agreement to buy goods or services worth more than £35 from a trader whose visit is unsolicited may by cancelled, and the same right where a visit by a trader follows an unsolicited doorstep or telephone approach.
The Office of Fair Trading is currently investigating the doorstep selling market under powers provided by the Enterprise Act 2002. The OFT expect to report on their investigation early in the New Year. All recommendations will be carefully considered.
Concorde
Mr. Gale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what role she has in determining the final destinations for each of the Concorde aircraft; and if she will make a statement;. [135331]
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- (2) what estimate she has made of the final public cost of the project to (a) develop, (b) produce and (c) maintain, while in public ownership, the Concorde aircraft since 1973; and if she will make a statement. [135333]
Ms Hewitt [holding answers 5 November 2003]: Total UK Government expenditure in support of Concorde was £1,358 million gross, £1,062 million net of receipts in prices of the day. These data were compiled from information taken from the appropriation accounts over the period 1956–57 to 1986–87.
Public ownership ceased in 1984 when British Airways became the owner and operator of the UK Concorde fleet. The Government is therefore not in a position to make a decision on the final destinations for each of the Concorde aircraft. That remains a decision for British Airways, the legal owner of the UK Concorde fleet.
Construction Industry
Mr. Nigel Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what policies she is following to ensure an adequate supply of skilled construction engineers; and if she will make a statement on the effect of current employment legislation on training of the under-18s. [134239]
Nigel Griffiths: The Government provide approximately £35 million to the Construction Industry Training Board in respect of various contracts and schemes administered by them. £3 million support their role as a Sector Skills Council and sponsors events like National Construction Week to encourage young people to make construction a first choice career.
The DTI also works closely with the Department for Education and Skills to take forward actions arising from the recent Skills White Paper, and Work Permits UK, which administers the work permits regime. The Government are fully committed to Modern Apprenticeships as a means of preparing young people for an economy based on high-level skills.
The Department for Education and Skills on the matter of training for the under-18s, which is a matter primarily for them.
Consumer Credit
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what action she will take to amend consumer credit law to stop shopping vouchers being used as a first contact for those selling doorstep loans; [136290]
- (2) what representations she has received about loan companies using shopping vouchers as a means of avoiding consumer credit legislation which forbids unsolicited selling of loans; [136291]
(3) what discussions she has had with (a) high street stores and (b) trading standards departments to stop loan companies using store discount vouchers to avoid the consumer credit legislation which forbids unsolicited selling of loans. [136292]
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Mr. Sutcliffe: As you are no doubt aware, my Department is currently undertaking a major review of the Consumer Credit Act to bring it up to date so that it continues to provide appropriate consumer protection. A major aspect of this will be the publication in December 2003 of a Consumer Credit White Paper.
The review has been characterised by consultation, and decisions on the content and focus of the White Paper have been made after comprehensive discussions with key stakeholders—industry, consumer groups and enforcement agencies—including the Office of Fair Trading, which has responsibility for monitoring social and commercial developments in the provision of credit.
In addition, my Department has also received comments and opinions during the course of the review from many organisations and individuals—including on the issue of doorstep lending techniques—that have contributed to the development of the proposals that will be set out in the White Paper.
Mr. Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps her Department is taking in (a) the review of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and (b) the preparation of the forthcoming Credit White Paper to require companies to make more accessible the language used in their (i) promotional and (ii) contractual material. [136631]
Mr. Sutcliffe: As the hon. Gentleman is aware, my Department is nearing the conclusion of its review of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. I have announced that a Consumer Credit White Paper, outlining our proposals will be published in December of this year.
Among other things, the White Paper, will set out proposals for reform in two key areas where clear and accessible information for consumers is required, the advertising of consumer credit products and the form and content of credit agreements. Alongside the White Paper we will publish consultation draft legislation to reform the law in these areas.
Estate Agents
Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the protection given to consumers and their right to financial compensation under (a) the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991, (b) the Estate Agents Act 1979 and (c) other legislation governing housing transactions. [136797]
Mr. Sutcliffe [holding answer 6 November 2003]: The Estate Agents Act 1979 regulates the conduct of estate agents in the buying and selling of property and seeks to ensure that consumers as either buyers or sellers are treated honestly and fairly. The Office of Fair Trading can, if satisfied that a person is unfit to carry on estate agency work, make an order prohibiting that person from carrying on estate agency work. Under the Property Misdescriptions Act 1991 it is a criminal offence to make a false or misleading statement about a number of specified matters concerning a property in either written or verbal communication with a prospective client.
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Neither of these Acts provides directly for the payment of compensation to consumers. However, those who suffer a financial loss as a result of malpractice by estate agents or misdescriptions of property may be able to make a claim for compensation in the civil courts. If the estate agent is a member of the Ombudsman for Estate Agents Scheme, consumers may also be able to make a claim for compensation to the ombudsman.
The Department is not responsible for any other legislation specifically governing housing transactions.
Correspondence
Mr. Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when she will respond to the letter of 2 September from the honourable Member for Totnes concerning Mr. Trevor Sams of Scope Communications UK Ltd, Totnes. [136971]
Ms Hewitt: My office has no record of the hon. Member's letter. If he writes to me again I will ensure that the letter will be dealt with as quickly as possible.
Departmental Expenditure (Official Residencies)
Mr. Flight: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much the Department spent on (a) maintenance, (b) renovation, (c) council tax and (d) running costs of residential properties used by ministers and officials in each year since 1997. [134698]
Ms Hewitt: My Department has not had any costs relating to Government-owned official residences used by DTI Ministers since 1998. Information about the costs for previous financial years is already in the public domain.
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