To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the effects on consumer representation of the Consumer Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007; what response he has made to paragraph 5.66 of the House of Lords Regulators Committee’s report on economic regulators; and if he will make a statement. (175737)

The Government assessment of the changes to consumer representation made by the Consumer Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007 was set out in the response to the House of Lords Regulators Committee’s report on economic regulators, published on Thursday 21 February. Paragraph 1.16 states:

“The Government believes that the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act will strengthen consumer representation in key sectors. The new National Consumer Council will be established from 1 October 2008. The Government are working with industry, regulators and the existing bodies to ensure that the current consumer representative framework is maintained and wherever possible enhanced during the transition.

The Government are confident that the overall framework established by the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act will provide full support to Energy and Postal Consumers.”