asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has any plans to introduce legislation to provide that a person owning a hairdressing salon or managing such a salon and in charge of training there must first be a registered hairdresser under the Hairdressers (Registration) Act 1964; and if he will make a statement.

Entry into the hairdressing craft has traditionally been free. It is important to maximise competition, and I have no plans to introduce legislation concerning compulsory registration.