REGULATION OF PEDLARS

That this House notes that there are six local authority private bills currently before this House, which seek to regulate the street trading activities of pedlars, and seven that have already been dealt with; notes that there may be up to 50 local authorities considering similar private legislation to regulate the activities of pedlars in other towns and cities in England and Wales, which is an indication of the scale of this problem; further notes the considerable costs incurred of between £40,000 and £200,000 in promoting a private bill; and calls on the Government to support the Pedlars (Street Trading Regulation ) Bill, introduced by the hon. Member for Bolton South East.