New Clause
3
Definition
of ‘estate agency
work’
‘After
subsection 1(1) of the Estate Agents Act 1979 (c. 38)
insert—
(1A) In
this Act the expression “estate agency work” also refers
to persons—
(a)
developing and selling;
and
(b) directly
selling
residential
property to members of the
public.”.’.——[Mr.
Prisk.]
Brought
up, and read the First time.
Motion made, and Question
proposed, That the clause be read a Second
time.
The
Committee divided: Ayes 6, Noes
8.
Division
No.
7
]
Question
accordingly negatived.
Ordered,
That certain written evidence
already reported to the House be appended to the proceedings of the
Committee—[Mr.
McCartney.]
Written
evidence to be reported to the
House
CEAR 1
Which
magazine
CEAR 2 BOC
Gases
CEAR 3 Citizens
Advice
CEAR 4 Law
Society of
Scotland
CEAR 5
Federation of Small
Businesses
CEAR 6
National Association of Estate
Agents
Bill, as
amended, to be
reported.
Mr.
McCartney:
On a point of order, Mr. Weir, I am
extremely grateful to you and to Mr. Caton for your guidance
and stewardship during these proceedings, as well as for your tolerance
and patience during the days of debate. In this relatively short
session, we have had broadly constructive debates that I believe
reflect a common desire on all sides to deliver a Bill of real benefit
to all consumers.
In
that spirit, I also thank the hon. Members for Hertford and Stortford
and for Richmond Park for their constructive and diligent approach to
proposals, and for their contributions. I put on record my appreciation
for the way in which they have taken on board Government views on
several issues. I have, in turn, reciprocated. I am fully aware that,
despite areas of agreement, there remain areas of difference between
us, and I wish to return to those on Report.
I am grateful to the
Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, my hon. Friend the
Member for Poplar and Canning Town, for his unstinting support in
Committee. He dealt with a large number of important issues,
particularly during my enforced
absence last Thursday. I put on record my appreciation for my
Parliamentary Private Secretary, my hon. Friend the Member for Wigan,
and for my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, for keeping the
Government side of the Committee organised. I also thank my hon. Friend
the Member for Ealing, North, and I am sorry that I failed to restrain
his premature rising on one
occasion. I thank the
officials, who have done a brilliant job, not just in Committee but
through the months during which we have prepared for the Bill, and kept
the Committee fully briefed and informed. Finally, Mr. Weir,
I thank the Clerk and all the staff for their efforts: the Hansard
reporters, the police and the officers of the House have played an
important part in ensuring the smooth running of the
Committee.
I thank you
for listening to me, Mr. Weir. This is the first time that I
have been in Committee for a number of years, and I have really enjoyed
it. I look forward to Report and, even more importantly, to when the
Bill becomes an Act and we implement it effectively for the first time
for millions of consumers and get them redress in situations in which,
until now, they have been able to complain but had no possibility of
getting redress. I look forward to the discussions that will take place
in a few weeks’
time.
Mr.
Prisk:
Further to that point of order, Mr.
Weir. I match the Minister’s remarks to you and your fellow
Chairman, Mr. Caton. The Committee has been pleasant and we
have managed to keep matters reasonably restrained. There has been the
odd outburst now and again, but what would we be if we were not able to
do that? I thank you for your guidance, Mr. Weir, and extend
my thanks to the officers of the House and particularly the Clerks for
their help and guidance in ensuring that we have been able to consider
matters and prepare amendments to ensure that the quality of scrutiny
is as it should be.
I
extend to both Ministers my thanks for the generally very positive way
in which they have approached the issues. We will disagree on certain
issues, which is only right and proper, and I am sure that that will
continue in a positive way—or occasionally a negative
way—on Report. Generally speaking, the way in which we have
sought to deal with the matters before us, and the way in which the
Ministers have reciprocated, has been positive. I hope that it has
shown the House in a good light. I extend those comments to the hon.
Ladies, the hon. Members for Richmond Park and for Solihull, the other
double act in this theatre of comedy. Sadly, the jester is not with
us—the hon. Member for Ealing, North, or, as I always call him,
the hon. Member for Ealing
comedy.
Last, and far
from least, I thank my hon. Friends, who have steadfastly listened
to—I was going to say my remarkable erudition, but they might
have different words for it. They have been supportive and helpful, and
it is always useful to have people who take an interest. My hon.
Friends have not only done that but on a number of occasions forced the
Government to recognise the weaknesses of the Bill and perhaps change
them.
On that note,
Mr. Weir, I shall sit down for the last time in the
Committee.
Susan
Kramer:
Further to that point of order, Mr.
Weir. Thank you for the opportunity to speak the last words in the
gathering of the Committee. I express my thanks, on behalf of my hon.
Friend the Member for Solihull, to you and to Mr. Caton for
chairing the Committee and for your patience with people
whohave relatively little experience of Committee work.
Although many of the amendments that we wish had been accepted were
not, there was real movement in the course of the Committee’s
deliberations.
The
underlying issues and shared concern across the House that the Bill
should eventually be a successful
Act led to positive exchanges with which I was really pleased. I was a
little saddened by the tiny bit of sniping at the end, which perhaps
reminded us of the place that we are in. However, the Committee has
been overwhelmingly positive and we feel that real progress has been
made. We hope that more can be made on Report. My thanks to everyone
who has beeninvolved, and I return the compliments to
Ministers, Government Members and the Conservative Opposition as well
as to yourself, Mr. Weir, andthe
officials.
Committee
rose at twenty-nine minutes past Six
o’clock.
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