§ Mr. Georgeasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what discussions he has had with the British Association of Removers concerning its recently announced customer guarantee scheme.
§ Mr. John FraserFollowing the collapse of certain companies in 1976, which affected several hundred emigrants and led to questions in the House and to an Adjournment debate—[Official Report, 7 March 1977; Vol. 927, c. 1191–1208]— I discussed with representatives of the British Association of Removers the possibility of introducing some type of bonding scheme.
The association has now brought into operation a customer guarantee scheme, to be run by an authorised insurance company, in which all members of its overseas group will be required to participate. The scheme provides for certi- 496W ficates to be given to customers to the value of the advance payment for the removal. In the event of default by the remover, the customer would be able to make a claim on an indemnity fund.
I welcome the scheme as a useful step forward in the protection of those arranging for their personal effects to be moved overseas. Such persons now have an additional incentive for placing removals in the hands of companies which are members of the overseas group of the British Association of Removers.