PROTECTION FOR HAJJ TRAVELLERS

That this House deplores the exploitation of British Hajj travellers by unscrupulous travel agents; notes that 125,000 pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia every year, that the overwhelming majority of Hajj and Umraj tour operators do not provide written agreements, and that a majority mislead consumers on the package price; further notes that Birmingham City Council's Trading Standards Department found that just one in 10 Hajj tour operators are completely compliant with tour and travel regulations; congratulates that department on its vigorous pursuit of rogue operators; and calls on the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills to ensure that enforcing legal requirements on travel agents is a priority for trading standards departments throughout the country and that they are given the funding to do this.