Manchester City Council Bill [Lords](By Order)

I shall attempt to speak for a few minutes—if my voice lasts that long. Like many Members, I come to the debate as someone with a record of pursuing consumer protection issues, and because I want to defend the rights and welfare of legal traders. I came to the issue several years ago when I was contacted by a former constituent. I appreciate that anecdotal evidence is not always the best basis for taking a view on legislation, but in this case it prompted me to look in more detail at the legislation that applies to pedlars. If I may detain the House for a few minutes, Members will see that my constituent's words speak for themselves:"““We are a small flower business trading from a shop…in Leeds. This shop has been trading flowers for some 30 years and provides a great service and focal point to the centre of Leeds.""Over the past year an illegal street trader””—" a pedlar—"““and an associate have been selling flowers from an oversized makeshift cart””—" in Leeds—"““some 100 yards up the parade from our shop. This inevitably has had a grave impact on our sales as he is able to undercut our prices as he has no rent, Council Tax or insurance to pay. The street traders licence (peddler) only allows him…to stop at the point of sale but in fact he occupies the same spot as a permanent fixture.""The Police and Leeds City Council are looking into this and have tried to help but whatever action they have, or are taking has so far had no impact as he remains trading in exactly the same place. It seems that he is blatantly able to flaunt the law””—" I think my constituent means ““flout the law””—"““by bypassing any regulations at the expense of innocent paying shop traders.””"