§ Mr. Hardyasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether clearance by the Price Commission of rental increases by television rental companies or licences issued by his Department have the effect of overriding consumers' contractual rights.
§ Mr. MaclennanNo. The Price Commission does not approve price increases, and the notification of an increase to the Commission has no effect on the contractual rights of the consumer. Licences are issued to rental companies by my Department solely in connection with the Control of Hiring Order, and the licences do not override the hirers' contractual rights. It has come to my attention that one company, Henry Wigfall & Son Limited, in seeking increases which may not be permitted by the agreement in question, has purported to its customers that it is authorised to make such increases by the Price Commission and my Department. No such authorisation has been given and no powers exist under which it could be given. I would strongly deprecate any failure by a company to comply with the terms of its agreements with its customers and I very strongly deplore302W any claim that such a failure has official authority.