Schedule 4 - The Competition and Markets Authority

Part of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 2:00 pm on 5 July 2012.

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Photo of Norman Lamb Norman Lamb The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills 2:00, 5 July 2012

Just to be clear, the hon. Lady is right that the responsibility of consumer education and advocacy will go to Citizens Advice, but consumer responsibilities, such as for unfair contract terms, will remain with the CMA. It will continue to have a role in safeguarding consumers’ interests where competition issues are at play in a market.

The CMA will be required by paragraphs 12 and 14 in schedule 4 to publish an annual plan containing the statement of its objectives and priorities for the year ahead, looking forward, and a report on its performance against the objectives, looking back. They have to be laid before Parliament. It seems entirely appropriate that the duty should be to Parliament as a whole.

Once the plan and the report are laid before Parliament, the Select Committee is absolutely at liberty to scrutinise either the plan or the report. It would be odd to impose a duty on the Select Committee; surely, it should be for the Select Committee to determine its priorities and work programme. It is at liberty to scrutinise the documents that are properly laid before Parliament, and I ask the hon. Lady to accept that that is appropriate.