§ Mr. Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is his estimate of the total cost of establishing and implementing the new controls over estate agency as envisaged in the current report "Estate Agency" issued by the Director General of Fair Trading;
(2) whether he is able to give a firm date for when he expects the new proposals for estate agency control outlined in the Office of Fair Trading report to be in operation.
§ Mr. ForthI received the director general's report on the issues that I asked him to consider in relation to my proposals to improve consumer protection in estate agency on 9 March.
I am giving careful consideration to his conclusions and recommendations, particularly in respect of the proposals for new controls under section 3 of the Estate Agents Act
766W1979 and under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968. Examination of the resource implications of these proposals will form part of this work.
I intend to announce my conclusions shortly.