§ Clause 3, page 3, line 42, leave out from beginning to first ("in") in line 43 and insert (" location of those words")
§ Clause 3, page 3, line 44 at end insert "and may prescribe such other requirements (whether as to type, size, colour or disposition of lettering or otherwise) as the Board may consider appropriate for securing that the words come to the attention of the hirer or buyer at the time when he is about to sign the document.")
§ LORD DRUMALBYNMy Lords, Amendments Nos. 10 and 11 go together with Amendments Nos. 20, 23, 57, 74, 105, 106, 113, and 114. The substantive Amendment is No. 57. Your Lordships will recall that the noble and learned Lord, Lord McNair, raised the question of how to ensure that hire-purchase agreements are not printed in such a way that nobody can read them. I undertook that we would deal with this matter, and the new clause introduced by Amendment No. 57 does so. The Amendment deals with the new subsection (1), which gives the Board of Trade power to make regulations for this purpose; the power covers not only the kind and size of lettering but extends also to other matters which affect legibility, such as the colour of the print and the paper, the length of the line, and the distance between the lines. The other subsections of the clause deal with subsidiary matters; for example, subsection (2) recites the documents regarding which regulations may be made, and subsection (3) provides that where a document does not comply with the regulations the effect is the same as if it had not been sent or delivered. The introduction of this new clause necessitates minor Amendments in Clauses 3 and 5, and consequential Amendments in Clause 22 and Schedule 2. I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in Amendments Nos. 10 and 11.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendments.—(Lord Drumalbyn.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.