§ 17. Mr. Barnettasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation requiring building societies and others lending money for house purchase to provide copies of the surveyor's report to prospective purchasers who pay for such reports.
§ Mr. MacCollNo, Sir. To compel building societies to provide copies of these reports would imply that they were 892 more general help to purchasers than is the case.
§ Mr. BarnettIs my hon. Friend aware that it simply is not good enough to accept uncritically the opinions of the Building Societies Association? Would he at least have discussions with the Association, which might be prepared to reconsider this matter, so that many hundreds of thousands of people who are paying money for something that they are not getting might see something for their money?
§ Mr. MacCollI can assure my hon. Friend that we have had and continue to have discussions with the Association. It takes this view and, short of legislation, at the moment it does not seem likely to alter it.
§ Mr. BarnettIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.