§ Mr. Hamiltonasked the President of the Board of Trade how many Scottish firms engaged in hire-purchase business are currently under investigation by him; and how soon he expects to be able to make a public statement on the findings.
§ Sir D. EcclesIt would not be helpful to the enforcement of the Hire-Purchase Orders to give the number of firms under investigation by my Department with a view to the institution of proceedings, or to disclose the findings. Routine visits to traders in Scotland by Board of Trade officers under the Hire-Purchase Orders averaged 16 a week in 1957.