New Clause 3
Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill
6:15 pm
Mark Prisk (Shadow Minister (Small Businesses and Enterprise), Trade & Industry; Hertford and Stortford, Conservative)
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.