§ 16. Mr. Wadeasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the attempts still being made to circumvent the law relating to penalties in hire-purchase agreements by provisions for compensation for depreciation, he will now introduce legislation to prevent this practice.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe Committee on Consumer Protection has announced its intention of considering whether there should be further control of the terms of hire-purchase and credit-sale agreements. I would prefer to await their report.
§ Mr. WadeAs the particular case which I have in mind relating to a motor car hire-purchase agreement is sub judice I cannot comment on it. May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to watch the position carefully with a view to introducing amending legislation?
§ Mr. MaudlingI will certainly watch it carefully. I know the case in question, which, as the hon. Gentleman rightly says, is sub judice.
§ Mr. DarlingIn view of the increasing number of references to the Malony Committee, would the President consider asking that Committee to publish interim reports, because if we are to wait for a comprehensive report covering all these things we shall have to wait for another two or three years?
§ Mr. MaudlingI do not think the hon. Member need be quite so concerned. I do not think it is a question of an increasing number of references but of an increasing number of questions disclosing what the Committee is doing.