§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will take action to control criminal activities and extortion by unauthorised loan sharks.
§ Mr. LeighThe Director General of Fair Trading and local authority trading standards departments are responsible for enforcing the Consumer Credit Act 1974 which prohibits unlicensed persons from carrying on the business of lending sums of less than £15,000 to individuals. Enforcement of the criminal law on making unwarranted demands with menaces and on unlawful harassment of debtors is a matter for chief constables.