HC Deb 04 July 1923 vol 166 c427
60. Mr. LEACH

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware that great hardship is often inflicted on persons who have to resort to moneylenders and who, through ignorance of the law and inability to pay for legal advice, are debarred from having the protection given by the Moneylenders Acts, 1900 and 1906; and will he therefore arrange that Judges and Registrars of County Courts, before giving judgment in this class of case, shall go into each transaction and give relief where the defendant is entitled thereto as prescribed by the Act?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

I am not aware of the fact stated in the first part of the question. As to the second part, whenever a defence under the Moneylenders Acts is raised, the Judge or Registrar goes into the transaction, and gives relief if the defendant be entitled to it; and in the County Court the defendant can ask for this relief at any stage of the proceedings, and even during the trial itself, without having given previous notice of his intention to do so.

Mr. W. THORNE

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a number of money-lending firms in London who are pestering Members of Parliament with circulars offering to lend them £100 without any security, and can he put a stop to this pernicious system?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

The hon. Gentleman is quite right. I have had some myself.

Mr. THORNE

Did you borrow any money?

The ATTORNEY-GENERAL

I mean the circulars, and I wish very much that a stop could be put to such circulars, whether addressed to Members of Parliament or to other persons, but it is not very easy to devise a remedy.