§ 35. Mr. Goldingasked the Attorney-General whether he will now take steps to introduce legislation to increase the protection given to house purchasers.
§ The Attorney-GeneralSince I answered the hon. Member's Question on 19th July, my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has received a number of further comments on the Law Commission's proposals, some of them very recently. No decision on legislation can be taken until they have been properly considered.
§ Mr. GoldingIs the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that concern still exists at the inability of some house purchasers to obtain protection from jerry builders? is he aware that it is thought that the present voluntary machinery does not provide adequate protection?
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe present voluntary system, which has been estab- 370 lished by the National House Builders Registration Council and includes a 10-year guarantee and insurance—thereby, for instance, making the bankruptcy of a builder immaterial—is working well. There have been two broad criticisms of the proposed legislation, and my right hon. and noble Friend is considering the representations which he is receiving—the last of which came in only at the end of September.
§ Sir D. Walker-SmithWith regard to his reference to the work of the N.H.B.R.C., whose honorary vice-president I am—and have been since its inception—has my right hon. and learned Friend seen the tribute paid by the Sun newspaper within the last few days to the work of the Council? Does he agree that if house purchasers would avail themselves of the Council's certification scheme they would be very largely protected from jerry building?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI agree with what my right hon. and learned Friend has just said. The scheme instituted by this body is undoubtedly proving both effective and popular.
§ Mr. KaufmanSince the easiest way of helping house purchasers would be to implement the Prices and Incomes Board's Report on solicitors' conveyancing charges, can the right hon. and learned Gentleman now say when he will come to a decision on this report, which has been in his hands for nearly seven months?
§ The Attorney-GeneralI expect to have a Question directly on this subject posed to me by the hon. Member; I do not propose to answer it in supplement to this Question.