Oral Answers to Questions — Trade and Industry – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 19 November 1973.
Miss Janet Fookes
, Merton and Morden
12:00,
19 November 1973
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will refer to the Director General of Fair Trading for investigation the practice of printing "xp off" on goods for sale.
Mr Geoffrey Howe
, Reigate
The Director General has been given a very wide field for review under the Fair Trading Act 1973. In these circumstances it is right that he should in general be left to evolve his own order of priorities.
Miss Janet Fookes
, Merton and Morden
Will it then be in order to draw the attention of the Director General direct to this particularly pernicious habit, which can only bamboozle the public?
Mr Geoffrey Howe
, Reigate
I shall certainly see that the Director General is made aware of what my hon. Friend has said.
Mr Greville Janner
, Leicester North West
What is the correct way for an hon. Member to draw urgent matters, such as that referred to in the Question, to the attention of the Director General?
Mr Geoffrey Howe
, Reigate
The Director General is free to receive correspondence from, or to have matters drawn to his attention by, members of the public and, a fortiori, hon. Members.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
