§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any proposals for extending the Sale of Goods Act to estate agents; what representations he has received on this matter; and if he will make a statement.
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§ Mr. ForthMy right hon. Friend has no proposals to extend the provisions of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 to sales of land and has not received any representations on this matter.
§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on requiring estate agents to disclose personal interests in properties or sales and stopping them favouring bids which use mortgages or other services in which the estate agent has a personal interest; what proposals he has for legislation or regulations on these matters; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ForthThe Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers, and the National Consumer Council, have copied to me their responses to the Director General of Fair Trading's consultation document on estate agency which includes proposals on disclosure of personal interests and on tie-in sales. The director general will be reporting the conclusions of this consultation shortly. I will study the director general's report most carefully, and consider what action may be necessary to give effect to any recommendations he may make.