§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will make a statement on the collapse of the Overseas Relatives Reunion Club of Scarborough which arranges flights for elderly people visiting their relatives abroad; and if there is any action his Department can take to assist those who have made travel arrangements through that firm.
§ Mr. Meacher,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th March 1977; Vol. 928, c. 672], gave the following information:
A petition for the winding up of the company which manages the club will be heard in the High Court of Justice on 25th April 1977. If the company is wound up, those who have lost money may be able to claim in the liquidation as unsecured creditors. I understand from the CAA that as far as is known ORRC was not required to hold an air travel organiser's licence so it did not pay contributions to the Air Travel Reserve Fund. There is no action which I can take to assist it. I am, however, considering whether this is a problem which should be remedied in future, bearing in mind the administrative and legal difficulties involved.