§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she is now able to announce a date when the relevant portions of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 will be brought into operation so as to enable an individual as of right to obtain from a credit reference agency a copy of any file held by it on him, and to require the correction of any wrong information.
§ Mr. MaclennanPreparatory work—including detailed consultations with representative bodies of consumers and the credit industry—on the necessary regulations is nearing completion; my right hon. Friend expects to make the regulations to come into operation at the turn of the year. In the meantime, and in advance of the regulations, I hope and have every reason to believe that the main credit reference agencies are willing to help consumers who think their files may contain incorrect information.
§ Mr. Cordleasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she is now able to announce a date when the relevant portions of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 will be brought into operation so as to require credit reference agencies to obtain a licence from the Director General of Fair Trading.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe Director General of Fair Trading is in the course of detailed consultations with representative374W bodies of consumers and the credit industry on the arrangements for licensing. Good progress is being made in the preparations for introduction of licensing and I hope that applications for licences under the Act will be invited before the end of the year.