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Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 26: 26: Clause 21 , page 12, line 6, at end insert— ““( ) The Council may acquire an interest in a body corporate under subsection (4)(b) only with the consent of the Secretary of State.”” The noble Lord said: My Lords, the amendment relates to Clause 21, which provides the council with the power to carry out commissioned work in any area where it has skill, experience or expertise. Under the clause, the council would be able to give advice or assistance to others and be paid for providing this service. This clause also gives the new council the power to acquire an interest in an existing body corporate with a view to that body exercising certain functions on its behalf. Following a very useful debate in Committee, we have given this aspect of the provision further consideration and concluded that it is appropriate to make this power subject to the approval of the Secretary of State, as was raised in Committee. I beg to move. On Question, amendment agreed to. Clause 24 [Enforcement by regulator of section 23 notice]: