HC Deb 20 February 1958 vol 582 cc1378-9
21. Mr. Janner

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the excessive increases which have been made recently in the cost of repairing various types of domestic equipment; and whether he will consider calling together a conference of the leading trade associations concerned with a view to seeing what action can be taken to control such increases and to prevent excessive profits.

22. Mr. Gibson

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to investigate and control the recent widespread excessive increases in the prices charged for the repair of radio, television and other electrical apparatus.

Sir D. Eccles

I am clear that repair charges are a matter for the customer. The right course is to leave publicity and competition to keep the charges reasonable.

Mr. Janner

Does the Minister realise that that is a very unsatisfactory Answer? It is estimated that of the 14 million households in this country [...] least half have television sets, and that the people concerned are quite ignorant as to what repairs are necessary when anything goes wrong? Something should be done to see that the public is not fleeced in any way when these repairs are carried out. Is the Minister satisfied that he is doing anything at all in this very important matter which is causing considerable anxiety?

Sir D. Eccles

The size of the market mentioned by the hon. Member proves what a lot of competition there must be. Neither the Minister of Supply nor I has any power to control repair charges, and I do not see how we could do it.

Mr. Gibson

Is the Minister aware that that is not only completely unsatisfactory but contrary to the exposures which have already been made in the Press? Is he aware that the Daily Mail of 21st January carried an article headed "Repair racket. Dealer who charged five times the price"? Is he further aware that many of us are receiving complaints of this sort of thing, as well as having personal experience of it, week by week? Surely it is the duty of the Board of Trade to use its power to protect the consumer.

Sir D. Eccles

I read the article in the Daily Mail with interest, and I am sure that it will have done good. We have not had many complains in the Board of Trade and, as I told the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner), we have no powers to control repair charges.

Mr. Jay

Do the President's answers mean that he does not propose to take any action in the direction of protecting the public?

Sir D. Eccles

The publicity that we are now giving the matter—with the aid of hon. Members opposite—will do some good, but I do not propose to take any legislative powers.

Mr. Nabarro

Get the "Co-ops" to put it right.