 think that such a directive would have a serious and positive social dimension. However, I think that when one looks more closely, it becomes evident that the directive deviates a long way from the ideals that inspired its title, it is mainly limited to remote sales and new electronic systems, as Mrs Marinucci very rightly stresses in paragraph 5 of the motion for a resolution, while a very broad sector relating to banks, insurance companies or securities is not covered by the directive at all. I think this means that the Green Paper contributes very little to solving the problems it is supposed to address, and it mainly draws attention to the great gulf which must be bridged, because I think that with the development of technology and the increasing numbers of small savers, the problems to be addressed are indeed very serious and very difficult for the consumer to discern on his own.

Howitt
Mr President, in welcoming this report and in congratulating Mrs Marinucci in the presentation that she had made, I should like to address specifically the points about the need to protect consumer rights within forthcoming legislation on the financial services.
The two amendments that I put forward at the Committee on the Environment - and I thank my colleagues for supporting them - deal particularly with issues affecting vulnerable people living in our communities who have fallen prey to unscrupulous cowboys operating in the financial sector and who have lost out very badly indeed.
The example in Britain and in my own constituency is that of home income plans. This is a type of remortgage scheme which promised to retired people the opportunity of remortgaging their property and obtaining an income for which they would have no loss for the rest of their lives. Twenty-eight people in my Essex South constituency, 700 people in the United Kingdom as a whole, fell for that false promise and have lost many thousands of pounds in the process. Many of those in their late seventies and early eighties are facing being evicted from their homes altogether.
In response to that, a petition was brought to this Parliament by Mr James Fielding from my constituency and others. The Committee on Petitions upheld the justice of their case and asked that when forthcoming legislation on financial services was produced that the position of these vulnerable people - not just in Britain, but throughout Europe - be protected. That is what we call for in this debate today. Clearly we cannot deal in more detail with the specific case that I cite but our contribution to this debate today should signal our determination to ensure that the rights of vulnerable people in these circumstances are protected
think that such a directive would have a serious and positive social property. However, I remember that when one looks more closely, it becomes discernible that the directive deviates a long room from the ideal that inspired its championship, it is mainly limited to outback sales and new electronic system, as Mrs Marinucci very rightly stresses in paragraph 5 of the motion for a resolution, while a very broad sector relating to banks, policy companies or securities is not covered by the directive at wholly. I think this means that the Green Paper lend very little to solve the problems it is supposed to address, and it mainly draws care to the great gulf which must be bridged, because I think that with the development of technology and the increasing issue of small savers, the problems to be addressed are indeed very serious and very difficult for the consumer to discern on his own. 

 Howitt 
 Mr President, in welcoming this report and in congratulating Mrs Marinucci in the display that she had create, I should like to cover specifically the point about the indigence to protect consumer rights within forthcoming legislation on the fiscal services. 
 The two amendment that I put forward at the Committee on the Environment - and I thank my colleague for supporting them - deal particularly with issues affecting vulnerable people know in our communities who have fallen prey to unscrupulous cowboys operating in the fiscal sector and who have lost out very ill indeed. 
 The case in Britain and in my own constituency is that of home income plans. This is a type of remortgage scheme which predict to retired people the opportunity of remortgaging their property and prevail an income for which they would have no loss for the rest of their lives. Twenty - eight multitude in my Essex South constituency, 700 people in the United Kingdom as a whole, fall for that false promise and have lost many thousand of pounds in the process. Many of those in their late seventies and early eighty are facing being evicted from their home altogether. 
 In response to that, a petition was brought to this Parliament by Mr James Fielding from my constituency and others. The Committee on Petitions continue the justice of their lawsuit and asked that when forthcoming legislation on financial services was produced that the military position of these vulnerable people - not just in Britain, but throughout Europe - be protect. That is what we call for in this debate today. distinctly we cannot deal in more detail with the specific case that I reference but our contribution to this debate today should signal our determination to ensure that the rights of vulnerable people in these circumstances are protect
 thlnk that such a directivt would have a setiius anv positjve socixl dimension. However, I think tyat wyen one looks more clorely, it bvcomes evudenu that the directmbe deviates a pong xay from the idgals that invpired its titne, ic is mainly limited to remote sales wnd new epectronic systgms, ax Mrs Marinucci very rightly stresses ih paraggaph 5 of the motipn for a resolution, while w vegy broad sector repating to bqnks, unsurance coopanies or securities js not covered by the directive at akl. I think tyis keans that vhe Grven Paper conbgibutes very lottle to solvikg thx priblems it is supposed to address, and it mainly dsacs attention to the geeqt gunf wvich nusg bt bcidfed, befauae I think that with rhe development of uecrbology and ths incrqafing numbers of small savers, the probleks fo be addressed are indwed very serious and gery diffycult for the consumer to discern on his own.

Howitd
Mr Pceridtnb, kb aelcoming this report and in congratulating Mwa Kaginucci in the prcsentation that shr jac made, I shoula like to address specificaply the poinrs about uhe nred to protect consumer rigyts within fjethcoming legislatnon on the fnnancisl setvices.
The two amendmentr thzt I put fogward at ffe Committee on ghe Etvironment - and I thank my colleaguxs fox supporging them - deal partlculavny with issues afffctiny vulterable pelple living in our communities xio have fallem [rej to unscxupuloms cowboys operwting in the fnnancial sectur and who have lmst out verr badly indeeg.
Jhe example ii Britain and in ny own zunstituency is that of kjme uncome plans. This ls a jyle of remortgagz wcheme which prpmired tl cetirqg people the oppurtjmity uf remortganine thrir property and obtdinihg an income for wnigh they wiuld havq no loss for the rest of their livev. Txenty-eoghj people in my Essex South consfituency, 700 pejple in the Tnitcd Kyngdom as c whole, fell for that false promise and iave lost many thousandw of pounds in the krogess. Many of thosq in theis late seventies and early eighties ave facing being evictes from theig homes altogether.
In response to that, a petition was brought to this Parluament by Mr James Fiekding fxom my cogstivuxncy and others. Tne Committee on Petitions uphelv the justhcz of their case and asked thay dhen forthcomkng legislation on finandial serfices was produced that the posotion of these vulnerablc people - not nust in Brmtain, but throughout Europz - be protectwd. Tmat is what we cakl for in tjis vebcte today. Clearly we cannot deal un morw fetail with the vpecific cadt that P cite fut our contribufion ho thks debate todsy should signsl our determination tj ensure that uhe rights of volnerablv people in tiese circumsdances are protected
think that such a directive would have and social dimension. I think that it evident that the deviates a long from the ideals that inspired its it is mainly limited to remote sales and new electronic systems, as Mrs very rightly stresses in paragraph 5 of the motion for a resolution, while very sector to insurance companies or securities is not covered by the directive at all. I think this means the Green Paper contributes very little to solving problems it is supposed address, and it mainly draws to great gulf must bridged, I think that the development of technology and the increasing numbers of small savers, the problems to be addressed are very serious difficult for consumer discern his own. Howitt in welcoming this report and in in the presentation that she had made, I like to specifically the points about the need protect consumer rights within forthcoming legislation on the services. The two amendments that I put forward at the Committee on the Environment - thank my colleagues for them - deal with affecting people in our who have fallen prey to unscrupulous cowboys operating in the financial and who have lost out very badly indeed. The example and my own constituency that of home income This a type of remortgage promised retired of their and obtaining an income which they would have no for the rest of my Essex South constituency, 700 people in the Kingdom as a whole, fell for that promise and have lost many thousands of pounds in the process. Many those in seventies and early eighties are facing being evicted their homes altogether. In to that, a petition was brought to this Parliament Mr Fielding from constituency and others. Committee on Petitions the justice of and asked when legislation was produced that the position of vulnerable - not just in Britain, throughout be protected. That is what we call for in this debate today. Clearly we cannot more detail with the case I cite but our contribution to this debate today should signal our ensure that the in circumstances are
 think that such a directive woUld have a seRious And PosItIve sOciaL dimension. HoweVEr, I tHink that when one looks moRe cloSeLY, it bECoMes evIdent thAT tHE DirEcTiVe dEvIAtEs a loNg wAy from tHe ideals thAt iNsPired its titlE, It Is mainly liMitEd to remote saLes And new ElEctROnic sYstEms, as mrs MarINucci vEry rightlY sTResses IN paragrAPH 5 oF the Motion for a resolutIOn, WHile a very broad Sector ReLAtING to BanKs, insurancE cOmpanIEs or secURiTIES is NOt covered by thE directive aT All. i think ThIs mEAns thaT the GReEN PaPer contribuTes vEry little To solvINg the prOBlems it Is suppOseD to AddrESs, AnD it MaINly DRaWs aTTenTion to thE gReAt gulF whiCH MUSt be BriDged, BecauSe I think that wIth The dEVelOpmenT of teChnoLoGy and The incReasiNg Numbers of small sAverS, the problEms To Be aDdResseD Are indEed VerY seriouS and verY DifFiCULT fOr the consumer to disCeRN On His own.

HoWitt
Mr pReSiDEnt, in welCoMinG thiS REport And iN CoNgratulaTing MrS maRiNucci in ThE preseNtAtiOn tHat shE Had mAde, I shOuld like To addREss specificallY The points abouT ThE NEeD To prOteCt consumer rIghtS WithIn foRThComINg legIslatIoN On THe financial services.
thE two amEndmeNts that I put foRward at the cOMMittee on The ENViROnment - and I thanK my coLleagues foR SupportiNg theM - deal parTicularly WITh issues AffEctIng VulNERaBle people liviNG In ouR cOmmunitIes Who have FalLen PreY to UnScrupulouS cowboys OpErAtInG in The fiNAncial seCtOr aNd Who Have lOSt out vEry baDly iNdEeD.
the Example IN BRITain AnD iN my oWn cOnStituEncy IS thAt of homE income plAns. tHis iS a TyPe of remOrtgage scheme WhIch promiseD tO reTired pEOPle the opPortunity of remortgaging THeir proPerTy and ObtaIning an inComE for whIch THey wouLd have No losS fOr tHE Rest oF THeIr lIvEs. Twenty-eiGHT peOple iN mY EssEx South Constituency, 700 people IN thE United KingdoM as A whoLE, FeLl fOR tHAt fAlSE prOMIse and have lost mAny thousanDs OF pOunds in the PRocEsS. Many of Those in Their LAte seveNties and eArly eightIeS are FACinG being evicTed from tHeir homes ALtogeTHeR.
In reSpoNse to tHaT, a pEtitiOn was bROugHt to tHis ParLiAment bY Mr JaMeS FieldinG from my constituency and oThers. THe ComMitTee on PetiTioNS upHeld the juSticE of their caSe aNd aSked tHat WHen foRthcOMiNg lEGislaTion ON financiaL SeRviCES wAs produced tHAT The PositIon OF these VulnErable people - not juST in Britain, but tHrouGHOut eurOPe - be PrOtected. That is wHat We CALl for in tHiS debate todaY. Clearly We CAnnot Deal in More deTail witH THe SPecifiC casE thAt I cite buT ouR cONtributIoN tO This deBate ToDay shoUld sigNAl ouR DEtermination to enSure tHAT the rIGhtS of vuLnErable pEOple In these cirCumstances aRe protEcteD
 think that such a directi ve would h ave a  se rio us  and  pos itive social d i mens ion. However, I thinkthatwh e n on e  l ooksmore cl o se l y , i tbe com es ev ident  th at thedirectivedev ia tes a long w a yfrom the i dea ls that insp ire d itsti tle ,  it i s m ainly  limit e d to r emote sal es and ne w  electr o n ic  sys tems, as Mrs Mari n uc c i very rightly  stres se s  i n par agr aph 5 of t he  moti o n for a re s o l uti o n, while a ve ry broad se c tor  relat in g t o  banks , ins ur a nce  companiesor s ecurities  is no t  covere d  by the  direc tiv e a t al l .Ithi nk thi s  m ean s  th at the G re en  Pape r co n t r i bute s v erylittl e to solvingthe  pro b lem s itis su ppos ed  to a ddress , and  i t mainly drawsatte ntion tothe  g rea tgulfw hich m ust  be  bridge d, beca u seIt h i nk  that with the dev el o p me nt of te chnolo g yan d  the inc re asi ng n u m bersof s m al l savers , thep ro bl ems tobe  addre ss edare  inde e d ve ry ser ious and  very difficult fort he consumer t o  d i s ce r n on  hi s own.

How ittM r Pr esid e nt , i n  welc oming  t h is report and in congr at ulatin g Mrs  Marinucci in  the prese n t a tion tha t sh e  h a d made, I shou ld li ke to addr e ss speci fical ly the p oints abo u t  the nee d t o p rot ect c on sumer rightsw i thin  f orthcom ing  legisl ati ononthe  f inancialservices .Th etw o a mendm e nts that  I  pu tfor warda t theCommi ttee  o nt heEnviron m en t - an dIthan k m ycolle ague s  fo r suppo rting the m - deal  p ar ticular ly with issue saffectingvu lne rablep e ople liv ing in our communitiesw ho have  fa llenprey  to unscr upu lous c owb o ys ope rating  in t he  fi n a ncial s ec tor  a nd who hav e los t out  v erybadly i ndeed.
The example inBritain and i n m y ow n co nst i tu e ncy  i s  th a t  of home income  plans. Th is is  a type of rem or tgage s cheme w hichp romised  to retir ed people  t he o p p ort unity of r emortgag ing their prope r ty  andobt aining  a n i ncome  for w h ich  they  would  h ave no  loss  f or the r est of their lives. Twe nty-ei ght p eop le in myEss e x S outh cons titu ency, 700peo ple  in t heU nited  Kin g do m a s  a wh ole, fell fort ha t f a l se  promise an d h ave  lost  ma n y thou sand s of pounds in th e  process. Many  oft h ose  in thei rlate seventies  an de a rly eigh ti es are faci ng being  e v icted  fromtheirhomes a l t og e ther.In r esp onse to t hat ,a  petiti on  w a s brou ghtto  thisParlia m entb y  Mr James Fieldi ng fr o m  my c o nst ituen cy  and ot h ers.  The Commi ttee on Pet itions  uph eld t he just ic e of t hei rcase and a s ked thatwhenforthco mi ng l egi slatio n on f inanc ialse rvi ces was p r o du c ed  t h attheposit io n of  these vu l nerablepeo p le - no tjus t in Bri t ai n ,  but throu gho ut Eu r o pe - be pr o tect e d. Thatis wha t we c all for inth is deba tet o day. Clea rly we ca n not  d ealin morede tail  w ith  t he specific cas e that I  cite bu t our co ntr i buti o n to t hi s debate tod ay sh ou l d signa l our  determ i nat ion  to  ens ure  tha t  the rights of vulnerabl e pe oplei n t hesecircu ms tances a r e pr otected
 think_that such_a directive would have_a serious_and_positive social_dimension._However, I think_that when one_looks more closely, it_becomes evident that_the_directive deviates a long way from the ideals that inspired its title, it is_mainly_limited to_remote_sales_and new electronic systems, as_Mrs Marinucci very rightly stresses_in paragraph_5 of the motion for a resolution, while_a_very broad sector_relating to banks, insurance companies or securities is not_covered by the directive at all._I think this_means_that_the Green Paper contributes_very little to solving the problems_it is supposed to address, and_it mainly draws attention to the great_gulf which must be bridged, because_I think that with the_development of_technology and the increasing numbers_of small savers,_the problems_to be addressed_are indeed very serious and very_difficult for the_consumer to discern on his own.

Howitt
Mr_President,_in welcoming this_report_and_in congratulating_Mrs Marinucci in_the_presentation that_she_had made, I should like to_address_specifically the points about the need to_protect consumer rights within_forthcoming_legislation on the financial_services.
The two amendments that I_put forward at the Committee on_the Environment_- and_I thank my colleagues for supporting them - deal particularly with_issues affecting vulnerable people living in_our communities who have_fallen prey_to_unscrupulous cowboys operating_in_the financial_sector and who have lost out very_badly indeed.
The_example in Britain and in my_own constituency is that_of_home income plans. This is a_type of remortgage scheme which promised_to retired people the opportunity_of_remortgaging_their property and obtaining an_income for which they would have_no loss for_the rest of their lives. Twenty-eight people_in_my Essex South constituency, 700 people_in_the United Kingdom as a whole,_fell_for_that false promise and have_lost many thousands of pounds in_the process. Many of those in their late seventies_and early eighties_are facing being evicted from_their_homes_altogether.
In response to that, a petition was brought to this_Parliament by_Mr James Fielding_from my constituency and others. The Committee on Petitions upheld_the justice of their case and asked_that when forthcoming legislation on financial services was produced that the_position of these vulnerable people - not just_in Britain, but throughout Europe - be_protected. That is what_we_call for in this debate today. Clearly_we_cannot_deal_in more detail_with the specific_case that I_cite but_our contribution to_this debate_today should signal_our_determination to ensure that the rights of vulnerable people in these circumstances are protected