HC Deb 02 June 1992 vol 208 cc498-9W
Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce regulations to control the amounts loaned by finance and leasing companies in respect of photocopying machines used in cost per copy photocopy agreements.

Mr. Neil Hamilton

No. I welcome the recent initiatives by the Finance and Leasing Association and the Director General of Fair Trading in this area. Leasing documentation should be clear and specific, enabling prospective lesses to decide whether a cost per copy facility is more appropriate.

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will investigate the profits made from cost per copy photocopying agreements by Anglio Leasing, its subsidiary RML leasing, and Palace Leasing.

Mr. Neil Hamilton

I have no powers to make such an investigation.

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will ask the Director General of Fair Trading to extend his recent inquiry into malpractice in the photocopying industry to cover business practices of leasing companies.

Mr. Neil Hamilton

The Director General of Fair Trading has a general statutory duty to make himself aware of activities which may adversely affect the interests of consumers in the United Kingdom. If the hon. Member has evidence of such activities it should be brought to the attention of the director general so that he may consider what action, if any, may be appropriate under the legislation for which he is responsible.

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the value to leasing companies of cost per copy photocopying agreements.

Mr. Neil Hamilton

No. Such agreements are likely to vary too widely in their size and terms for such an estimate to be feasible.

Mrs. Mahon

To ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will cancel all present and planned building of nuclear power stations, close down existing Magnox reactors and phase out advance gas-cooled reactors.

Mr. Eggar

No. The Government will undertake a full-scale review of the future prospects for nuclear power in the UK in 1994. Until then, the UK's existing stations will be operated to the highest standards of safety and as efficiently as possible. Nuclear Electric plc will complete the construction of Sizewell B.