§ 10. Mr. Michael McNair-Wilsonasked the Minister for Trade if he will introduce legislation to provide that retail outlets selling electrical equipment that requires servicing shall provide such facilities.
§ Dr. VaughanOf course, it is important that customers should be able to have the goods that they buy serviced when necessary, but I ask my hon. Friend to consider that legislation to compel all retailers to provide this would not be advisable, since it would in some cases reduce the service available and also jeopardise a number of small firms which specialise in servicing.
§ Mr. McNair-WilsonDoes my hon. Friend agree that it is anomalous that small shops should provide service facilities at considerable cost to themselves for the electrical equipment they sell and that sold by other retailing outlets, whereas hypermarkets sell such equipment at cut prices because they provide no service? In those circumstances, should we not follow the West German example and insist that shops, such as hypermarkets, should provide the same servicing as is provided by the smaller outlets?
§ Dr. VaughanNo, I do not agree. As part of a free market and competition, it is important that people should be able to provide services in different ways and at different prices.
§ Mr. Hal MillerDoes my hon. Friend accept that there is a particular problem with the servicing of expensive items of imported electrical equipment, the manufacturers of which appear to disown all responsibility for subsequent servicing of their equipment?
§ Dr. VaughanThere are difficulties. It seems to me that my hon. Friend is making a case for people, whenever they can and wish, to buy goods produced in the home markets, where servicing is undoubtedly easier.