Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 104: 104: Clause 36, page 21, line 18, at end insert ““including companies and industry experts who would be affected by such an order”” The noble Baroness said: The amendment would ensure that where the Secretary of State extended functions of the National Consumer Council, he would have a duty to consult not only the relevant legislatures and the council but those businesses and representatives of businesses as would be affected by the extension. Given that the National Consumer Council would, under Clause 21, have the power to establish business connections and to receive support from business and industry, it is important that where the functions of the National Consumer Council change, those companies and others that would be affected by such a change are consulted. If the Minister can assure us on the record that such consultation will take place under the powers of subsection (3)(c), I shall be happy to withdraw the amendment. I beg to move.