HC Deb 09 March 1932 vol 262 cc1787-8
35. Mr. TURTON

asked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been drawn to the loss sustained by bona fide purchasers who have purchased secondhand motor cars in ignorance of the fact that the person from whom they or some previous seller purchased the motor cars held them under a hire-purchase agreement and had not completed the payment of the instalments; and whether he will make regulations under Section 12 of the Roads Act, 1920, so as to provide that the purchaser of a motor vehicle shall have a good title to the vehicle as against the vendor in all cases where the latter has not lodged a caveat or certificate of charge with the registration authority in order that the registration authority may indorse a note of this charge on the registration card?

Mr. PYBUS

I have no power by regulation to deal with the legal ownership of motor vehicles; and I am advised that non-compliance with regulations made under Section 12 of the Roads Act, 1920, could not affect the property in the vehicle or the title of a purchaser.

Mr. TURTON

Will the hon. Gentleman consider the inconvenience being caused to motor proprietors owing to this situation of the law, and will be appoint a departmental committee to investigate the matter?

Mr. PYBUS

I will consider the suggestion, but such a course is extremely unlikely.