HOOVER FREE-FLIGHT OFFERS

That this House congratulates the Daily Record for its articles on Hoover 'Free Flight' offers and BBC TV's Watchdog programme for its highly critical report on Hoover Free-flight offers; notes that the Daily Record contacted 300 people who complained in 1992 and found only 7 per cent. had their complaint resolved by mid-March; notes that since 8th March Watchdog has received over 600 complaints and enquiries from consumers concerned that Hoover can no longer guarantee to honour the offer; notes that Hoover and 'Your Leisure' place unjustifiable obstacles to prevent consumers taking up the offer, including failing to confirm availability of tickets for the date sought, but requesting details of accommodation and insurance, and by failing to ensure consumers receive documentation; regrets the failure of Hoover to give any figure for the number of people eligible for the offers, estimated at 200,000, the number who have applied for tickets, the number of tickets supplied and the number of disappointed consumers they are unable to provide tickets for; regrets that Hoover claimed that 80 per cent. to 90 per cent. of first-choice flights would be met when there is no evidence to support this; calls on Hoover to honour the spirit of their offer and tackle all outstanding cases and grievances by their customers; and calls on the Department of Trade and Industry to conduct an enquiry into Hoover and other Free-flight offers and to ensure that an enforceable code of conduct is adhered to, which ensure that companies have management expertise and resources to enable such offers to be properly administered.