§ 2. Mr. Roebuckasked the Minister of Technology whether he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to improve the guarantees given by motor car manufacturers to customers in the United Kingdom.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Technology (Mr. Gerry Fowler)The value of a guarantee to 193 the buyer of a motor car depends on its interpretation, as well as on its formal terms. But if my hon. Friend would care to write to me about any specific suggestions for improvements in guarantee terms, I should be glad to discuss these with the manufacturers.
§ Mr. RoebuckIs my hon. Friend aware that I have already written to his Department and obtained no satisfaction? Is he further aware that the United Kingdom car manufacturers offer to their United Kingdom customers guarantees which are inferior to those which they offer to overseas customers and that overseas manufacturers do the opposite? Would my hon. Friend look at this matter again, because the situation is quite unsatisfactory?
§ Mr. FowlerI am aware that my hon. Friend has written to the Department and I believe that he was advised to get in touch with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. As far as I gather, he has not yet done that. Motor car manufacturers are not obliged to give guarantees. They are only one element in the marketing policies of the manufacturers.
§ Mr. Ian LloydBefore the hon. Gentleman is too much encouraged by the hon. Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Roebuck) on the question of guarantees, would he bear in mind that it is almost invariably the case that the rights of the public at common law are diminished rather than increased by signing almost any form of guarantee for consumer durables?
§ Mr. FowlerWe shall certainly bear that point in mind.