§ 3. Dr. Alan Glynasked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider making it compulsory for a vehicle bought on hire-purchase to be registered in the hire-purchase company's name until all payments are discharged so as to protect a third party purchasing a vehicle without knowledge of the hire-purchase debt.
§ Mr. MarplesNo, Sir. There are no powers under which I could require this without new legislation.
§ Dr. GlynWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that answer, may I ask whether he would not agree that the only effective way of ensuring that this hire-purchase obligation is known to the purchaser is to endorse the log book? Is he further aware that similar endorsements are already made on log books where cars are not allowed to be sold if they have been bought under export orders?
§ Mr. MarplesThe registered owner is not necessarily the legal owner. In law it is the person who keeps and uses the car, and unless there is an amendment in the law I could not do what my hon. Friend wishes me to do.
§ Mr. MellishIs there not something in what the hon. Member for Clapham 1305 (Dr. Alan Glyn) says, in the sense of trying to protect the person who buys a vehicle without the knowledge that it is held on hire-purchase? If the right hon. Gentleman needs an amendment of the law, would he not take the advice of the police and of other legal people? If he does, he will find that we on this side of the House are very co-operative in trying to do something sensible.
§ Mr. MarplesIf the Opposition is cooperative in trying to do something sensible, I will do my best and will consult the police as the hon. Member suggests.