Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing a mandatory membership group for car hire companies to (a) better protect consumers and (b) ensure adequate standards in the industry.

The Government has not made any assessment of introducing a mandatory membership group for car hire companies.

There is strong consumer protection legislation in place that protects consumers when dealing with traders, including car hire companies, namely the Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and the Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013. In addition, the Competition and Markets Authority has considered and carried out enforcement action against certain car hire companies for breaches of consumer protection legislation and has produced guidance for businesses and consumers. Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-leads-europe-wide-action-on-car-hire.

For further information on their rights, consumers should contact the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 (www.citizensadvice.org.uk/). The helpline offers free advice to consumers on their rights and how to take their complaint forward. The helpline will also refer on complaints to the relevant authority for further enforcement action where appropriate.