Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that misleading claims about the financial benefits of multi-level marketing schemes are tackled.

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (CPRs) prohibit pyramid selling schemes and traders in all sectors from making misleading claims. This would include misleading claims about the financial benefits of multi-level marketing schemes. Enforcement of the CPRs is by local authority Trading Standards Services.

Alleged breaches of the legislation should be reported in the first instance to the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 (www.citizensadvice.org.uk/). The helpline offers a free service to consumers on their rights and can refer on complaints to Trading Standards for further enforcement action where appropriate.