§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if he will monitor the effect on door-step salesmen of hearing aids on a credit or consumer-hire basis as a result of the order which activates Section 49 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
§ Mr. John Fraser:Section 49 prohibits the canvassing of debtor-creditor agreements off trade premises; these are typically cash loans where there are no preexisting arrangements between the creditor and the supplier of the goods.
It is thought unlikely that the transactions described by my hon. Friend are in fact covered by Section 49. The Director General of Fair Trading has a duty to keep under review the working and enforcement of the Act and the matter would appear to be one for him. I have asked the Director General to write to my hon. Friend.