§ 22. Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish in the Official Report the reply which he sent to the letter which he received on 5th June, 1972, from the Society for the Control and Registration of Estate Agents and Mortgage Brokers.
§ Mr. NobleMy noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Trade wrote to the Society, offering to meet it to discuss the issues raised in its letter to me. I should have no objection if it wished to publish this correspondence, but the OFFICIAL REPORT is not the place for it.
§ Mr. DavisWhile thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that his answer to a similar question posed by me three weeks ago to the effect that there were fewer cases of dishonesty by estate agents and mortgage brokers reported to him recently than in the past is a totally unsatisfactory way of approaching this problem? Is he further aware that many reliable and honest firms of estate agents and mortgage brokers are anxious to get their house set in order and to establish legislation whereby they are required, just as solicitors, to keep clients' accounts and to have a professional body to which they can be answerable?
§ Mr. NobleI am aware that there are still problems. It is surely relevant whether the number of complaints on matters of this sort are large or small. In my earlier reply I said that there were very few complaints, and the same is true today. As for mortgage brokers, I think the hon. Gentleman knows that the Gov- 22 ernment are considering a recommendation of the Crowther Committee that all granters of credit should be licensed.
§ Mr. FreesonHow much longer shall we have to wait for a decision? Is the Minister aware that the whole question was the subject of draft legislation as long ago as 1966 but that the legislation was suspended on the basis that the trade itself would organise a voluntary registration system and that that system has been a failure? Is it not about time that action was taken to legislate without waiting any longer?
§ Mr. NobleI do not entirely accept that the voluntary system has been a failure. It has enormously reduced the number of complaints which have been received.