House of Commons Public Bill Committee Proceedings

Session 2013 - 14
Internet Publications
Other Bills before Parliament

125

House of Commons

Thursday 13 March 2014

Public Bill Committee

New Amendments handed in are marked thus

Amendments which will comply with the required notice period at their next appearance

Consumer Rights Bill

Note

The Amendments have been arranged in accordance with the Order of the

Committee [11 February 2014].

Annual report: consumer rights

Stella Creasy

Stephen Doughty

NC8

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)
The Secretary of State must prepare and publish an annual report of the effect of

public policy in the area of consumer rights and must lay a copy of the report

before Parliament.

(2)
The Report shall, with particular regard to low income households, include an

assessment of the effect on—

(a)
household bills; and

(b)
affordability.’.

Public Bill Committee: 13 March 2014
126

Consumer Rights Bill, continued

Annual report: public services

Stella Creasy

Stephen Doughty

NC9

To move the following Clause:—

‘(1)
Within three months of Royal Assent of this Act the Secretary of State must

publish a report detailing how—

(a)
better outcomes for consumers of public services; and

(b)
more efficient decision-making processes


will be ensured.

(2)
For the purposes of this Act a public service is any provided to the consumer

directly by—

(a)
a Government department;

(b)
a local or public authority; or

(c)
a trader acting on behalf of these organisations.

(3)
For the purposes of this Act a person shall be a consumer of public services under

a “direct commissioning contract” when they enter any—

(a)
agreement;

(b)
contract;

(c)
consumer notice; or

(d)
proposed contract,


for receiving a service which the person has a direct role in commissioning.

(4)
A report under subsection (1) will consider—

(a)
how each public service provider will ensure a formalised approach to

ensure independent advocacy is available for consumers at an early stage

in the decision-making process for the provision of public services;

(b)
the nature of an independent advocate to participate in this process, and

the definition of independence, including how this could be supported by

the conduct of any service provider;

(c)
the effect of a breach in a consumer’s statutory rights as set out by this

Act when a direct commissioning contract is in place;

(d)
what formal status any independent advice provided notice issued will

have in relation to local authority decision-making, in particular, in

instances where a public service continues to act contrary to such

information and formal legal redress is sought;

(e)
the role of the public sector ombudsman services in overseeing any such

approach under paragraph (a); and

(f)
how a public service provider will report on their formalised approach

under paragraph (a).’.

Order of the House [28 JANUARY 2014]

That the following provisions shall apply to the Consumer Rights Bill:

Committal

1.
The Bill shall be committed to a Public Bill Committee.

Public Bill Committee: 13 March 2014
127

Consumer Rights Bill, continued

Proceedings in Public Bill Committee

2.
Proceedings in the Public Bill Committee shall (so far as not previously

concluded) be brought to a conclusion on Thursday 13th March 2014.

3.
The Public Bill Committee shall have leave to sit twice on the first day on

which it meets.

Consideration and Third Reading

4.
Proceedings on Consideration shall (so far as not previously concluded) be

brought to a conclusion three hours after the commencement of the

proceedings.

5.
Proceedings on Third Reading shall (so far as not previously concluded) be

brought to a conclusion four hours after the commencement of proceedings

on Consideration.

6.
Standing Order No. 83B (Programming committees) shall not apply to

proceedings on Consideration and Third Reading.

Other proceedings

7.
Any other proceedings on the Bill (including any proceedings on

consideration of Lords Amendments or on any further messages from the

Lords) may be programmed.

Order of the Committee [11 February 2014]

That—

(1)
the Committee shall (in addition to its first meeting at 8.55 am on Tuesday 11

February) meet—

(a)
at 2.00 pm on Tuesday 11 February;

(b)
at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 13 February;

(c)
at 8.55 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 25 February;

(d)
at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 27 February;

(e)
at 8.55 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 4 March;

(f)
at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 6 March;

(g)
at 8.55 am and 2.00 pm on Tuesday 11 March;

(h)
at 11.30 am and 2.00 pm on Thursday 13 March;

(2)
the Committee shall hear oral evidence in accordance with the following

Table:

      TABLE

Date
Time
Witness

Tuesday 11
Until no later
Which?

February
than 9.45 am
Citizens Advice

Tuesday 11
Until no later
The Law Commission

February
than 10.15 am
The Scottish Law Commission

Tuesday 11
Until no later
The Confederation of British

February
than 11.00 am
Industry

The British Retail Consortium

The Federation of Small

Businesses

Tuesday 11
Until no later
The Trading Standards Institute

February
than 2.45 pm
The Office of Fair Trading

Tuesday 11
Until no later
MoneySavingExpert.com

February
than 3.15 pm

Tuesday 11
Until no later
The Department for Business,

February
than 4.00 pm
Innovation and Skills

Public Bill Committee: 13 March 2014
128

Consumer Rights Bill, continued

(3)
proceedings on consideration of the Bill in Committee shall be taken in the

following order: Clauses 1 to 60; Schedule 1; Clauses 61 to 63; Schedule 2;

Clauses 64 to 70; Schedule 3; Clauses 71 to 75; Schedule 4; Clauses 76 and

77; Schedules 5 and 6; Clauses 78 and 79; Schedule 7; Clause 80; Schedule

8; Clauses 81 to 86; new Clauses; new Schedules; remaining proceedings on

the Bill; and

(4)
the proceedings shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a

conclusion at 5.00 pm on Thursday 13 March.



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