Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL]

I support Amendments Nos. 42 and 43. If the consumer council is to be a powerful advocate—which we all want it to be, and I am sure it will be—one of its most important roles will be gathering and disseminating information, particularly about the frequency of complaints, because that is where any practice that needs to be dealt with swiftly or that needs to be publicised or even legislated against will come to light. Therefore, unless there is a clear duty on the NCC to carry out that function—which is one of its most important functions—then one of the main purposes of the Bill will not be fulfilled.