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Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 38: Page 4, line 20, leave out ““have regard to”” and insert ““implement”” The noble Lord said: I shall speak to Amendments Nos. 38, 39 and 41, which are intended simply to ensure that the NCC’s functions are tightened up. Amendment No. 38 would ensure that the NCC would indeed carry out the work promised in its forward work programme. Quite apart from the justification of the cost of producing such a document, it is important that the NCC, where it pledges to carry out work, does so, within reason, so that its functions are transparent to the consumer public. Amendment No. 39 tightens up the duty under subsection (6) so that one of the NCC’s main functions is to operate with the most efficient use of resources. The NCC is historically an efficient and, effectively, low-cost organisation; it would be a shame and a wasted opportunity if that was allowed to change and a further burden was placed on the taxpayer and industry. Amendment No. 41 ensures that the NCC will have to act with regard to achieving ““sustainable development””. I am sure that all Members of the Committee will remember the term well from the debates during the passage of the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. Now is not the time to debate the meaning of the term. Perhaps we shall come to it in more detail on Report. Section 2 of the Act states that Natural England, another non-departmental public body created by this Government, has a general purpose to contribute to sustainable development. It therefore makes sense that there is a read-across in this Bill. Indeed, many vulnerable consumers will be those living in rural and inner-city areas, places that are in need of very varied but equally important sustainable regeneration. I notice that the noble Lord, Lord Razzall, and the noble Baroness, Lady Miller of Chilthorne Domer, have tabled a similar amendment, and I am pleased to see that we are moving in the same direction on this matter. I beg to move.