Order of Secretary of State in Pursuance of Report on Reference to Which S. 17 Applies

Part of Orders of the Day — Fair Trading Bill – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 17 May 1973.

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Photo of Mr David Reed Mr David Reed , Sedgefield 12:00, 17 May 1973

During the three years in which I have been a Member of the House I have never done as well as I have today. Within half an hour I have been described as a thief and as a provider of a Socialist dream. My hon. Friend the Member for Watford (Mr. Raphael Tuck) may have been affected by our earlier debate about the professions, and that may have swayed his judgment.

I accept the Minister's arguments. I see that the Government are tackling this problem urgently, but I wish that they had begun to tackle it urgently when they were first asked to do so about 18 months ago. I welcome this belated conversion and I hope that when the legislation eventually comes it will be as thorough as it needs to be. I warn the Minister that the suggestions which he puts forward will be closely scrutinised. I am afraid that the Minister will find it immensely difficult to plug all the loopholes, but I wish him the best of luck.

I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.