Lord Dunleathasked Her Majesty's Government:
How many moneylenders have been registered in Northern Ireland under the Consumer Credit Act 1974; what checks are made to ascertain operation by unregistered lenders; in how many cases has the operation of registered and unregistered moneylenders been investigated: and in how many of these investigations has there been a prosecution.
219WA
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office (Lord Lyell)A register of all persons licensed under the Consumer Credit Act 1974 is maintained by the Office of Fair Trading. Separate figures for Northern Ireland are not, however, readily available. Trade and other media advertising are subject to regular scrutiny by enforcement officers of the Department of Economic Development for the purpose of identification of unregistered moneylenders. The operation of one moneylender was subject to extensive investigation but did not result in prosecution.