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Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL]

My Lords, I am told that because we are on Report, I may be breaking a rule. In that case I shall use the record instead. I was chilled by the words of the noble Lord, Lord Borrie. I thought, ““What am I listening to? I’m listening to the National Consumer Council being changed from the body it is: brave and strong and able to publish its reports as it has done all these 25 to30 years, not hindered by the Government in any way, fully funded by government but free to choose its work and to report as it wished””. Then I heard it said that the Secretary of State and the NCC will between them decide when things are published. All of this shows how important the amendment is. We should use the word ““must””. The National Consumer Council is being tied up in these words. I worry when I hear ““appropriate””, ““discretion””, ““drafting””. I worry that the National Consumer Council is being subsumed by a great, big body on which lies the Secretary of State’s hand, stopping it doing what it wishes to do. The provision does not sound clear or transparent. It does not sound like what we want the National Consumer Council to be. I am sure that the Minister has thought carefully and been well advised by his civil servants on how he should respond to me at this stage. I do not wish to divide the House on this point but I am disappointed by the answers. I was particularly disappointed by the reaction of the noble Lord, Lord Borrie. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.