§ 43. Mr. Collinsasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now remove the prohibition on the consolidation of hire-purchase agreements.
§ Mr. CollinsIs the President of the Board of Trade aware that although it was probably not his intention, this prohibition affects only the furniture industry, in which at present two out of every five men are either unemployed or working part time? Will he not look at the matter again in the hope of affording at least some relief?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftAn Answer has already been given on the question of unemployment and short time. To do as the hon. Member asks would permit a form of no-deposit trading and would be inconsistent with the arrangements which we have made.