Clause 56 - Appeals to the Consumer Credit Appeals Tribunal
Consumer Credit Bill
5:00 pm
Gerry Sutcliffe (Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs), Department of Trade and Industry; Bradford South, Labour)
Again, the hon. Gentleman is heading in the right direction with his questions. He asked me how long after a determination a person can appeal to the tribunal. The rules will set limits in relation to anything that is to be done for the purposes of an appeal and for the extension of such time limits. The rules are likely to specify that an appeal must be lodged within 28 days. That is the period under the current regulations and is also in line with normal tribunal practice.
On the question of who can appeal and on what grounds, the relevant sections of the 1974 Act and clauses of the Bill set out who can bring appeals to the tribunal. In general, appeals can be brought by those to whom the OFT's determination relates. As the hon. Gentleman says, they can be brought by a person whose licence has been refused, suspended, revoked, granted in different terms or varied. Likewise, a person who had a licence requirement imposed on him, which was not the same as the one he had suggested or varied, could appeal. Similarly, those named in requirements or whose employment was in some way affected by a requirement may appeal. The penalties imposed for breach of requirements and licences or of the information provisions can also be appealed.
I hope that having heard that explanation hon. Members will support the clause.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 56 ordered to stand part of the Bill.