Consumer Credit Bill

Well, perhaps other issues have had an effect. We have had a good debate, which was conducted in the right spirit. We had some robust contributions, which did not necessarily hone in on the Lords amendments before us this evening. I apologise to the hon. Members for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Prisk) and for Kingston and Surbiton (Mr. Davey) for not welcoming them to their new responsibilities. We have had discussions in Committee recently and I am beginning to see those hon. Gentlemen far too often for my liking. We continue to have good natured debates. There was reasonable support for Lords amendment No. 1, so I hope that everybody is happy with the distinction between ““his”” and ““the debtor’s””. The wording is transparent and will provide the opportunities that we need. On Lords amendment No. 2, I am grateful to the hon. Member for Angus (Mr. Weir), who has raised many issues about legal certainty and judgment. I take on board his comments and thank him for his congratulations on the amendment. The main amendment for discussion was Lords amendment No. 3, on the OFT’s responsibilities in relation to irresponsible lending. There was confusion in some minds about the distinction between the unfairness test and the responsible lending function that the OFT will be able to take into consideration when performing its licensing function. I refer hon. Members to the debates on previous stages of the Bill, in which we tried to clarify why we were supporting that function for the OFT. I do not think that the hon. Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Liddell-Grainger) meant to attack the OFT, and it is true that the Bill will have resource implications for it and bodies such as the trading standards authorities, which act as enforcement authorities on behalf of the OFT when requested. The hon. Member for Kingston and Surbiton raised the point on data sharing made previously by the hon. Member for North Norfolk (Norman Lamb). It is important, and the three Front Benchers have been talking to APACS and others about it. I have also talked to colleagues in the Department for Constitutional Affairs, and we will consult shortly on the issue.