§ 2.51 p.m.
§ Lord Campbell of AllowayMy Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lord Renton, and at his request, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in his name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Consumer Credit Act 1974, which was supported by all parties, has not yet been fully implemented, and when is it to be so.
§ Lord LyellMy Lords, my honourable friend the Minister for Consumer Affairs announced on Monday in another place that he hopes to lay before Parliament shortly the regulations necessary to implement the remaining provisions of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
§ Lord Campbell of AllowayMy Lords, while I thank my noble friend the Minister for that reply, is he aware of any impediment to the implementation of Section 60 of this Act—an impediment that has existed for some eight years, and which prevents the implementation of this section, which imposes a duty on the Secretary of State to lay regulations concerning the form and content of regulated agreements under this Act for the protection of consumers?
§ Lord LyellMy Lords, I am glad to be able to confirm to my noble friend Lord Campbell of Alloway that the two main areas in which the necessary orders and regulations have yet to be made, and which are 1135 forecast by my honourable friend in another place, cover the regulations for the form and content of the agreements, cancellation notices, default notices, and other documentation—all of which is necessary to give the consumer the full protection of the Act. To take one example which I believe might fall into the ambit of Section 60, consumers will have a right to cancel within the "cooling-off" period certain agreements signed off trade premises, which we call colloquially "doorstep agreements".