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Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL]

I support my noble friend Lady O’Cathain. I, too, apologise for being unable to participate on Second Reading. We have to be clear about the function of the Committee stage of a Bill, and it is playing a bit fast and loose with it to say that because a Second Reading has taken place we have bought into the principles. It is for the Minister to justify every detail of this Bill; that is why we have a Committee stage. One amendment that we are dealing with, tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady Miller, relates to Clause 3 and designated consumers. It will be important to probe whether the provisions are appropriate. As other Members of the Committee have said, we are all very much minded to ensure that the National Consumer Council works well, has appropriate powers that are clearly delineated and that the right designated consumers are listed in the Bill. I am not at all clear that they are. I hear what has been said about the need for an umbrella organisation, but first and foremost the question must be asked about whether we are convinced that the consumer will be better served. It may well be the case; I wait for the Minister to assure me on that, on Postwatch and on Energywatch. My concern is water; I had the privilege of chairing a sub-committee of the Science and Technology Select Committee, where we did a report on water management in the United Kingdom at a time when the Consumer Council for Water was just starting out, having succeeded WaterVoice. We were impressed by the start that it made; we are fairly sure that it is counterproductive to pull up an organism and inspect the roots too often. I would have thought that good practice would require that you gave an organisation such as this one at least five years to settle down, particularly as we are coming to the next stage of reviewing water prices. I am simply giving notice, since it will come up later, that I for one will need persuading on the detail of the Bill. I am not prepared to be told that because we have had a Second Reading whole clauses are naturally and inevitably appropriate. I hope the Minister will assure me that Clause 3 should stand part of the Bill.