§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if she will make it her policy to introduce a scheme for the statutory regulation of the conduct of estate agents. [44711]
§ Mr. Nigel Griffiths[holding answer 8 June 1998]: Statutory regulation is provided by the Estate Agents Act 1979 which regulates the conduct of estate agents and includes the power to prohibit their trading as estate agents. The Director General of Fair Trading, who is responsible for enforcement, has taken vigorous action against estate agents who misbehave.