Department Of Trade And Industry Services

EDM number 1576 in 1992-93, proposed by DN Campbell-Savours on 11/03/1993.

That this House notes that a telephone call was made from the office of the honourable Member for Workington from the House of Commons to the Department of Trade and Industry at 3.47 p.m. on Thursday 11th March to ask for the names of those British companies who produce photocopiers in the United Kingdom; notes that the reply came back that this information was not available from the Department of Trade and Industry and that such inquiries should be addressed instead to the London Chamber of Commerce on 071-248 4444; notes that a call was duly made, the same question asked, and the reply came back that a Member of Parliament seeking this information would have to pay ú47, along with any other person seeking such information even for domestic retail or export inquiries, unless they are members of this body; believes that this is a classic example of why the country's economy is going down the drain; believes that if the honourable Member had rung the Japanese Embassy in London, the Commercial Attache would have biked around the information free of charge and arranged for every photocopier manufacturer in Japan to fax further details within 48 hours; and believes that Members of this House will be astonished to find that those who are dissatisfied with this arrangement are provided with a complaints number, 071-215 6253, which honourable Members will not be surprised to find is permanently engaged.

This motion has been signed by a total of 44 MPs.