§ Mr. Gregor Mackenzieasked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of changes in hire-purchase regulations 132W affecting the electrical appliance industry, together with the dates and nature of such changes from 1959 to the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Darling:Hire-purchase regulations were not in force in 1959. They were reintroduced on 29th April, 1960. The information for the period since then is as follows:
Date of change Minimum deposit (per cent. of cash price) Maximum repayment period (months) 29th April, 1960 … 20 24 20th January, 1961 … 20 36 5th June, 1962 … 10 36 4th June, 1965 … 15 36 28th July, 1965 … 15 30 8th February, 1966 … 25 24 21st July, 1966 … 33⅓ 24 31st August, 1967 … 25 30 Cookers and water heaters have been subject to a minimum deposit of 10 per cent. and a maximum repayment period of 48 months throughout the period.