Clause 55 - The Consumer Credit Appeals Tribunal
Consumer Credit Bill
4:45 pm
Gerry Sutcliffe (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs), Department of Trade and Industry; Bradford South, Labour)
Clause 55 establishes the Consumer Credit Appeals Tribunal as a new, independent tribunal, which will hear appeals against determinations made by the OFT under the relevant provisions. Those include appeals against decisions to revoke, vary or suspend a licence, or impose a requirement or financial penalty. Under the 1974 Act, appeals are made to the Secretary of State and heard by a specialist panel on his behalf. We are removing the link with the Secretary of State to follow best practice on appeals. The independent tribunal will come under the supervision of the Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Lord Chancellor will make rules on appeals. More detail about proceedings before the tribunal is given in proposed new schedule A1 to the 1974 Act. This clause concerns the various possible treatments of businesses, which will always have the opportunity to submit representations against an OFT determination and will be able to appeal a determination to an independent tribunal. I beg to move that the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 55 ordered to stand part of Bill.