§ Mr. Hilary BennTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will ask the Office of Fair Trading to investigate the activities of the Mortgage Group; and if he will make a statement. [148181]
§ Dr. Howells[holding answer 1 February 2001]: The Director General of Fair Trading monitors the continuing fitness of all consumer credit licence holders.
I am aware of the Panorama programme which was broadcast on 28 January and contained a number of allegations about the business practices of the Mortgage Group. I understand that the Director General has approached the programme makers for evidence of the allegations made. Meanwhile, anybody else who has evidence of any breaches of the Consumers Credit Act 1974, its Regulations or the Director General's guidelines on non-status lending by any particular licence holder should pass full details to his office.