Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL]
[AS AMENDED IN PUBLIC BILL COMMITTEE]
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
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 96
54/2
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
iii
Standards for handling complaints
43
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
Subordinate legislation
60
Orders and regulations
61
62
Parliamentary control of orders and regulations
Amendments, transitional provision and repeals
63
Minor, consequential and transitional provision
iv
64
Repeals
General
65
Extent
66
Commencement
67
Short title
Schedule 1 —
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 —