• Accessibility
• Email alerts
• RSS feeds
• Contact us

House of Commons

Session 2006 - 07 Internet Publications Other Bills before Parliament

Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL]

Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL]
EXPLANATORY NOTES
Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Department of Trade and Industry, are
published separately as Bill 61—EN.
EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Mr Secretary Darling has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the
Human Rights Act 1998:
In my view the provisions of the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL] are
compatible with the Convention rights.
Bill 61                                                                                                  54/2
Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL]
Bill 61 54/2
Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL]
Contents
Part 1
The National Consumer Council
The National Consumer Council and territorial committees
1    Establishment of the National Consumer Council and its territorial
committees
2    The territorial committees
"Consumer", "consumer matters" and "designated consumers"
3    “Consumer” and “consumer matters”
4    “Designated consumers”
Determining priorities
5    Forward work programmes
6    General provision about functions
Annual report
7    Annual report
The core functions
8    The representative function
9    The research function
10    The information function
Powers of investigation
11    General powers of investigation
12    Investigation of complaints made by vulnerable designated consumers
13    Investigation of complaints relating to disconnection of gas or electricity
14    Reference of matters to the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
15    Reference of matters to the Postal Services Commission
16    Investigations relating to public post offices
Bill 61                                                                                                  54/2
Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL] ii
Other functions of the Council
17    Reports by the Council
18    Secretary of State’s power to require reports
19    Advice, information and guidance
20    Duty to enter into co-operation arrangements
21    Power to co-operate and give assistance
22    Voluntary activities
23    Supplementary powers etc
Information
24    Provision of information to the Council
25    Enforcement by regulator of section 24 notice
26    Enforcement by court of section 24 notice
27    Provision of information by the Council
28    Exemptions from requirements to provide information
29    Disclosure of information
Abolition of consumer bodies
30    Abolition of “Energywatch” and “Postwatch”
31    Designation of the Consumer Council for Water for abolition
32    Transfer orders and abolition orders
33    Supplementary provision about transfer and abolition orders
Abolition: supplementary provision
34    Compensation for loss of office
35    Transfer of property etc
36    Directions
Alteration of the Council’s functions
37    Extension of the Council’s functions: Great Britain
38    Removal of the Council’s functions in relation to Northern Ireland
Representation on other consumer panels
39    The Financial Services Consumer Panel
40    The OFCOM Consumer Panel
Interpretation
41    Interpretation of Part 1
Part 2
Complaints handling and redress schemes
Introductory
42    Interpretation of Part 2
Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL] iii
Standards for handling complaints
43    Standards for handling complaints
44    Requirements for making regulations under section 43
45    Information with respect to compliance with complaints handling standards
46    Supply of information to consumers
Requirements relating to redress schemes
47    Membership of redress scheme
48    Membership of redress schemes: supplementary
49    Approval of redress schemes
50    Approval of redress schemes: supplementary
51    Procedure for refusing or withdrawing approval
Enforcement
52    Enforcement of requirements imposed under Part 2
Part 3
Amendment of the Estate Agents Act 1979
Estate agents’ duties
53    Membership of redress schemes
54    Duty to keep records
Prohibition and warning orders
55    Grounds for prohibition orders
56    Grounds for warning orders
Investigatory powers
57    Powers of entry and inspection
58    Failure to produce information
Part 4
Miscellaneous and general
Contracts concluded away from business premises
59    Contracts concluded away from business premises
Subordinate legislation
60    Orders and regulations
61    Directions
62    Parliamentary control of orders and regulations
Amendments, transitional provision and repeals
63    Minor, consequential and transitional provision
Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL] iv
64    Repeals
General
65    Extent
66    Commencement
67    Short title
Schedule 1   —    The National Consumer Council
Part 1   —
Members of the Council
Part 2   —
Staff of the Council
Part 3   —
Territorial, regional and other committees
Part 4   —
Procedure etc
Part 5   —
Funding and accounts
Part 6   —
Status etc
Schedule 2   —    Enforcement of information requirements
Schedule 3   —    Abolition of consumer bodies: transitional provision
Schedule 4   —    Transfer of property etc to Council
Schedule 5   —    Information relating to compliance with complaints handling
standards
Schedule 6   —    Estate Agents’ Redress Schemes
Schedule 7   —    Minor and consequential amendments
Schedule 8   —    Repeals

• A-Z index
• Glossary
• Contact us
• Freedom of Information
• Jobs
• Using this website
• Copyright