Euro MP Christine Oddy is hard at work on a key report into one of Europe's latest and fast-growing developments - electronic commerce, often described as 'shopping on the web'.

The rapid growth in buying and selling via the Internet has prompted the European Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee to appoint her to draw up the report which will form the basis of regulations to protect buyers and reputable traders from fraud. The Coventry and North Warwickshire MEP brings her expertise as a solicitor and former law lecturer to the task.

Next Friday (12 February) she will visit the Corporation of London for a fact-finding visit on the subjects, meeting Tricia Drakes, Master of the Worshipful Company of Technologies, the City's newest livery company.

Earlier next week she will be also be meeting Nick Wood, Managing Director of Netsearchers, which he founded three years ago as a company specialising in protecting the intellectual property on the Internet of the owners of copyrights and trade marks.

Ms Oddy said:

"Electronic commerce is a fast-growing business with increasing numbers of people buying goods and carrying out financial transactions on the Internet. This report should lead to users getting the protection they need from fraud and misrepresentation and the assurance that their dealings are safe."