§ 11. Captain Corfieldasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that, subject to suitable safeguards to the owner, the rights of a hirer shall pass to his or her personal representatives upon his or her death during the continuance of a hire-purchase agreement.
§ Sir D. EcclesNo, Sir. I have no evidence that the present position whereby the owner may provide specifically that the agreement should come to an end on the death of the hirer has been abused.
§ Captain CorfieldWill my right hon. Friend look again at the case which I have submitted to his Department? Does not he agree that it is wrong that a hire-purchase firm can retake possession of any article originally costing over £300, notwithstanding the fact that at the time of death a large sum of money has been paid, a very small amount remains outstanding and the personal representatives are able and willing to pay off the balance?
§ Sir D. EcclesI understand that the case which my hon. and gallant Friend submitted to us is a very rare one. Usually, the owner makes arrangements with the representative of the deceased, but I think it is reasonable that he should have some regard to the financial status of the representative.