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Consumer Credit Bill

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Ealing, Comedy—I am sorry, Ealing, North for reminding us. On Report, we moved an amendment to provide that the Office of Fair Trading issue periodic guidance on what constitutes an unfair relationship. If definitions are not included in the Bill, will the Minister undertake at least to reconsider the scope for issuing guidance to clarify the situation for consumers, lenders and the courts alike? The key to an effective consumer credit regime lies in shared responsibility. Lenders have a duty to make responsible lending decisions, and data sharing, which the Minister and I have discussed both in the House and in his Department, is critical. Consumers also have to take responsibility for their borrowing and spending decisions but, sadly, many people do not have the financial literacy to enable them to do so. The Government thus have a responsibility to get the legislative framework right so that both lenders and consumers know where they stand.