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Consumer Credit Bill

I am not condemning the amendment. I want to ensure that it is implemented effectively. I have every confidence in Lord De Mauley, who is an excellent representative of my party in the other place. The Minister will know that a very similar amendment was tabled in Grand Committee, as has just been noted. We welcome the Government’s intention to remove an obstacle to consumers gaining effective redress through the courts. The Minister likes candour and a cross-party approach, so it is fair to say that the amendment is insignificant, in the overall scheme of things, when compared with the much bigger difficulties that the new unfair relationship rules present. I shall not rehearse in detail all the points raised repeatedly in this House and the other place. However, the Minister will be fully aware of the concerns that have been expressed, and that various implementation issues remain unresolved. We support the general principle of a new unfairness test, but are concerned about the lack of clarity in respect of what that will constitute in practice. I want to use the debate to tease the details out in a positive way, so that they can be put on record.