HC Deb 05 July 1976 vol 914 cc939-41
4. Mr. David Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she is satisfied that the form of application for a licence for credit trading does not contain unnecessary questions.

Mr. John Fraser

The Consumer Credit Act 1974 places on the Director General of Fair Trading the duty of administering the licensing system, and the questions in the application form are a matter for him.

Mr. Mitchell

Will the Minister take into account that small businesses are being suffocated by questionnaires and forms? Is he aware that the application form for a licence for credit trading has 21 difficult questions? Does he know of the curious one in which the applicant is asked to answer whether he has received from a conciliation committee of the Race Relations Board a written notification in which the opinion is expressed that the applicant has committed an act against that legislation—

Mr. Speaker

Order. I was tolerant, but the hon. Gentleman was quoting from a document. During Question Time he should not give information but receive it.

Mr. Mitchell

I apologise, Mr. Speaker, but I am anxious that the Minister should receive the information. Can he explain why on earth an opinion from the Race Relations Board should have a bearing upon the issuing of a licence for credit trading instead of such matters as the Employment Protection Act or Customs and Excise regulations and passport regulations?

Mr. Fraser

I have said that these questions are not my responsibility. The questions to commercial traders require answers of "Yes" or "No". I hope that that is not too much of an imposition on the people whom the hon. Gentleman represents. As regards discrimination, while it is right to ask about the colour of a man's money it is wrong to discriminate against a man on the ground of the colour of his skin. It is relevant to take into consideration whether a person has discriminated on grounds of sex or race.

Mr. Mike Thomas

Will my hon. Friend take compulsory powers to make small traders, in quoting interest rates for loans, state the real interest rate?

Mr. Fraser

I hope that Regulations relating to the true rate of interest will be published towards the end of the year.

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

Is the Minister aware that the licensing provisions under the Act are now operating in a ridiculously bureaucratic way and drawing in people such as newsagents who were never intended to be affected? Will he undertake to review the matter urgently with a view to amending the legislation? Is he aware that, if he does not do that, the next Conservative Government will?

Mr. Fraser

It is a little unusual for the hon. Lady to promise to amend, in another Conservative Administration, legislation which was basically drafted by the last Conservative Administration—

Mrs. Sally Oppenheim indicated dissent.

Mr. Fraser

—but consistency is not the hon. Lady's strong point. Of course, one wants to see legislation working in a way which is understandable and acceptable to the whole population. If there is found to be a need for an administrative change, I shall look at it. I thought that the legislation had the support of both sides of the House and that it was agreed that there was a need to regulate credit in this way.

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