§ Mr. Haleasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the increasing practice of travel agents to advertise tours abroad and to cancel them at short notice if sufficient bookings have not been secured; and if he will now introduce legislation to stop this practice.
§ Mr. JayI am not aware that cancellations at short notice are increasing. Legislation to prevent any abuse would be difficult to operate effectively, and I have no present intention of introducing it.
§ Mr. Haleasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a further statement as to the possibility of legislation designed to protect the public from travel agents who fail to keep their contracts through fraud or insolvency.
§ Mr. DarlingMy right hon. Friend will continue to keep under review the possible need for legislation, and will watch particularly how far the arrangements introduced by the Association of British Travel Agents in the last two years afford in practice protection to holidaymakers.