asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received calling for trading standards officers to be able to prosecute secondhand car dealers for trading standards offences without first receiving a complaint; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no representations calling for trading standards officers to have powers to prosecute secondhand car dealers under general trading standards legislation without first receiving a complaint. Such legislation, for example the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, generally empowers trading standards officers to investigate possible offences on their own initiative.