Clause 47 - POWER OF OFT TO REQUIRE ACCESS TO PREMISES
Consumer Credit Bill
10:00 am
Mr Laurence Robertson (Shadow Minister, Economic Affairs; Tewkesbury, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 35, in clause 47, page 38, line 27, at end insert—
'(7A) It shall be the duty of the OFT to take all reasonable steps to ensure that its own officers, or those of the enforcement agency, shall, when entering and while on the premises by virtue of this section, at all times behave in a reasonable and professional manner.'.
I assure the Minister that I shall not press the amendment to a Division, as it, too, is a probing amendment. However, it is a continuation of my concern about the OFT. Clause 47 gives the OFT power to require access to premises; clause 48 gives the OFT power of entry to premises under warrant. That is quite an extension of the OFT's powers. They are, I suppose, similar to the powers of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise; its considerable powers are familiar to any businessman. Perhaps they are required; I do not know.
Amendment No.35 requires the OFT to ensure that anyone entering premises, either as their own agent or as agents of other enforcement authorities, should behave in a proper and professional manner. That is not an unreasonable requirement. It is a probing amendment because there are many requirements on business and on licensees to co-operate. I am, however, concerned about the powers granted to the OFT. I ask the Minister to address not merely the amendment, but also to give the Committee an explanation of what supervision he envisages for the OFT when it has such powers of entry. It will concern licensees greatly.