To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employees were recruited by Consumer Focus or Consumer Futures in 2013; and, of that number, how many were graduates.[HL5730]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many employees were recruited by Consumer Focus or Consumer Futures in 2013; and, of that number, how many were graduates.[HL5730]

My Lords, with much to cover I hope that the Committee will forgive me if I set out the prospective changes in some detail.

The purpose of this order is: first, to abolish the National Consumer Council and transfer its relevant functions to Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland and the General...

My Lords, with much to cover I hope that the Committee will forgive me if I set out the prospective changes in some detail.

The purpose of this order is: first, to abolish the National Consumer Council and transfer its relevant functions to Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland and the General...

My Lords, I declare one current interest and one past interest: I am vice-president of the Trading Standards Institute, and I was chair of the National Consumer Council and Consumer Focus.

This is the last block of changes that the Government are introducing in this field. While I will end up...

My Lords, I declare one current interest and one past interest: I am vice-president of the Trading Standards Institute, and I was chair of the National Consumer Council and Consumer Focus.

This is the last block of changes that the Government are introducing in this field. While I will end up...

My Lords, I declare an interest as chair of the National Trading Standards Board, to which reference has been made several times today. I will confine my remarks primarily to the transfer of functions in respect of estate agents from the Office of Fair Trading, and will comment on the...

My Lords, I declare an interest as chair of the National Trading Standards Board, to which reference has been made several times today. I will confine my remarks primarily to the transfer of functions in respect of estate agents from the Office of Fair Trading, and will comment on the...

My Lords, when the Division intervened, I was simply making the point that trading standards departments around the country have been facing substantial reductions in their budgets over the past few years. It is estimated that, overall, trading standards funding from individual local authorities will, on average, have diminished by...

My Lords, when the Division intervened, I was simply making the point that trading standards departments around the country have been facing substantial reductions in their budgets over the past few years. It is estimated that, overall, trading standards funding from individual local authorities will, on average, have diminished by...

My Lords, I share the views of my noble friend Lord Whitty that this is actually a sad day. I am sorry that the Minister

did not pay tribute to the extraordinary work that the NCC has done over its life. It has been seen as that third part of...

My Lords, I share the views of my noble friend Lord Whitty that this is actually a sad day. I am sorry that the Minister

did not pay tribute to the extraordinary work that the NCC has done over its life. It has been seen as that third part of...

I thank noble Lords for their valuable and detailed comments on an issue that I recognise holds some sensitivities in terms of these changes for certain members of the Committee. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Harris, for his broad support and some reassurances on the estate agency part of...

I thank noble Lords for their valuable and detailed comments on an issue that I recognise holds some sensitivities in terms of these changes for certain members of the Committee. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Harris, for his broad support and some reassurances on the estate agency part of...

My Lords, my question was slightly different. It concerned the addition of what was the Consumer Focus function, particularly the function that was not funded by industry, which has been handed over to Citizens Advice. Has the amount of money that was previously spent by Consumer Focus on that area...

My Lords, my question was slightly different. It concerned the addition of what was the Consumer Focus function, particularly the function that was not funded by industry, which has been handed over to Citizens Advice. Has the amount of money that was previously spent by Consumer Focus on that area...

Absolutely. I was going to say that I will be more than happy to write to the noble Lord to confirm the precise figures. I reiterate that it is not our intent to cut the funding. The funding to the service to deliver advocacy on energy and postal matters will...

Absolutely. I was going to say that I will be more than happy to write to the noble Lord to confirm the precise figures. I reiterate that it is not our intent to cut the funding. The funding to the service to deliver advocacy on energy and postal matters will...

I am sorry that I was not clear. I absolutely understand that—I may not go along with it but I completely understand it. I asked about a different issue. At the moment, a redress scheme for estate agents has been approved by the OFT. Approval for that redress scheme will...

I am sorry that I was not clear. I absolutely understand that—I may not go along with it but I completely understand it. I asked about a different issue. At the moment, a redress scheme for estate agents has been approved by the OFT. Approval for that redress scheme will...

I have listened carefully to the noble Baroness, and I believe that she is correct. She mentioned the DCLG, and I can say that the reforms will create a new requirement for letting agents to join an approved redress scheme. It will be implemented through the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform...

I have listened carefully to the noble Baroness, and I believe that she is correct. She mentioned the DCLG, and I can say that the reforms will create a new requirement for letting agents to join an approved redress scheme. It will be implemented through the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform...

We will exchange letters.

We will exchange letters.

Indeed, a further exchange of letters would certainly clarify the matter.

The noble Baroness raised an important point about Citizens Advice being able to answer only about 45% of calls—to paraphrase her question. I am not clear where those figures come from because Citizens Advice is now reporting very high levels...

Indeed, a further exchange of letters would certainly clarify the matter.

The noble Baroness raised an important point about Citizens Advice being able to answer only about 45% of calls—to paraphrase her question. I am not clear where those figures come from because Citizens Advice is now reporting very high levels...

Lords motion to consider agreed to on question.

Lords motion to consider agreed to on question.

Motion to consider. Agreed to on division (10 votes to 7).

Motion to consider. Agreed to on division (10 votes to 7).