HC Deb 17 July 1978 vol 954 cc1-3
1. Mr. Tilley

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what further action he proposes to take to control doorstep selling.

The Minister of State, Department of Prices and Consumer Protection (Mr. John Fraser)

The Consumer Credit Act provides for a cooling-off period in respect of credit sales on the doorstep and I am hoping to bring this part of the Act into operation as soon as may be practicable. Possible controls on cash transactions are under consideration.

Mr. Tilley

I am grateful for that answer, but is my hon. Friend aware that the problem of doorstep racketeers, who sell anything from double glazing to pots and pans, will not disappear? Will he tell the House and those who are likely to be affected in future what redress they will have under the new arrangements and what they should do?

Mr. Fraser

Even at the moment the Director General of Fair Trading can suspend or revoke a licence where there has been a deceitful, unfair or oppressive practice by somebody selling on credit. I hope that people will exercise their rights and send complaints to the Director General of Fair Trading when they think that the holder of a licence has acted improperly.

Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg

Will the Minister drew the distinction which he and others drew in the House a few weeks ago, namely, that the draft directive from Brussels does not deal with this important problem? Should not the Commission stop worrying about catalogue mail order trading and leave it to the Government of this country to deal under the present law with some of the abuses mentioned?

Mr. Fraser

There are problems in protecting cash transactions. On credit transactions, what I told the House was that I hoped to impose no obligation greater than that which would flow from the Consumer Credit Act.

Mr. Pavitt

May I remind my hon. Friend of the events that occurred at 4 p.m. on Friday when a Conservative Member decided, against the pleading of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf, people disabled by deafness, Age Concern for the Elderly and from more than 300 small businesses dispensing hearing aids in the high road—

Mr. Speaker

Order. This Question relates to doorstep selling, not Friday's business.

Mr. Pavitt

In order to stop doorstep selling of hearing aids, will my hon. Friend examine the possibilities of preventing this practice by means other than that Bill which was before the House?

Mr. Fraser

I was bitterly disappointed at the behaviour of the hon. Member for Woolwich, West (Mr. Bottomley). I shall certainly see whether there are other ways of achieving this objective, apart from the use of that legislation.