Sale of Goods Act

HC Deb 17 December 1964 vol 704 cc540-1

5. Mr. Shepherd

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will seek to amend the Sale of Goods Act to ensure that cash buyers are afforded as much protection as those buying on hire purchase terms.

Mr. Darling

My right hon. Friend will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind when he is considering the Molony Committee's recommendations for the amendment of the Sale of Goods Act.

Mr. Shepherd

Is it not anomalous that a man who buys a car on hire purchase and does not pay all the money down has a built-in measure of protection and, therefore, more security than a man who pays cash and has very little recourse as a result?

Mr. Darling

The hon. Gentleman will recall that this matter was raised when we discussed the Hire Purchase Act. It is an anomaly which must be corrected, and we think that the best way to deal with it will be when we come to amend the Sale of Goods Act.

Mr. Heath

May we have an assurance that the Government will press ahead with the programme which we had already laid down for implementing the rest of the Molony Report?

Mr. Darling

Yes; that statement has already been made, as the right hon. Gentleman knows.