§ 19. Mr. Croninasked the President of the Board of Trade when he will introduce the Measure promised in Her Majesty's Most Gracious Speech to replace the existing emergency powers in respect of hire-purchase and hiring agreements and to regulate borrowing by hire-purchase finance companies.
§ Sir D. EcclesThe Government have decided that the second of these questions requires further study, and a Bill cannot, therefore, be introduced this Session.
§ Mr. CroninDoes the President realise that an enlightened Measure is becoming urgently necessary, as the seven Orders which he has issued in the last twelve months have caused progressive confusion in the hire-purchase trade, and the housewife is the principal sufferer?
§ Sir D. EcclesI think that legislation is necessary, but I am not quite sure that it will go as wide as the hon. Gentleman suggests. This particular question is one of extreme complexity.