To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what estimate he has made of the number of UK firms which have relocated to other EU states in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what estimate he has made of the number of UK firms which have relocated to other EU states in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement;

(2) what estimate he has made of the number of jobs lost as a result of UK firms relocating to EU countries in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

(2) what estimate he has made of the number of jobs lost as a result of UK firms relocating to EU countries in each of the last 10 years; and if he will make a statement.

I declare a couple of interests. The first is that I introduced a Bill on estate agents in the last Session. Had the Government seen themselves able to accept that Bill, we would not be sitting here now. We would have finished with the subject. The other is that I...

I declare a couple of interests. The first is that I introduced a Bill on estate agents in the last Session. Had the Government seen themselves able to accept that Bill, we would not be sitting here now. We would have finished with the subject. The other is that I...

This seems to be a good moment for me to come in. I shall deal with AmendmentsNos. 111 and 112 to Clause 42, but before that I shall answer a couple of questions. The noble Baroness, Lady Wilcox, asked about how the redress schemes apply to relevant consumers. In the...

This seems to be a good moment for me to come in. I shall deal with AmendmentsNos. 111 and 112 to Clause 42, but before that I shall answer a couple of questions. The noble Baroness, Lady Wilcox, asked about how the redress schemes apply to relevant consumers. In the...

I have considerable sympathy with the points that have just been made and I would like to hear the Government’s justification for their approach. However, I want to concentrate on the first of the amendments in the group, which is important. I support the amendment—or, at least, I would support...

I have considerable sympathy with the points that have just been made and I would like to hear the Government’s justification for their approach. However, I want to concentrate on the first of the amendments in the group, which is important. I support the amendment—or, at least, I would support...

Clause 36 requires the Secretary of State to consult on any proposal to extend the functions of the council. The clause specifies that consultees must include the council; Welsh Ministers—where the proposal may fall within their jurisdiction; and such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate. The amendment...

Clause 36 requires the Secretary of State to consult on any proposal to extend the functions of the council. The clause specifies that consultees must include the council; Welsh Ministers—where the proposal may fall within their jurisdiction; and such other persons as the Secretary of State considers appropriate. The amendment...

The amendments in my name in this group fall into two categories. I shall address Amendment No. 128 first, which would ensure that an order made to establish an estate agent redress scheme under new Section 23A, to be added to the 1979 Act, would be subject to the affirmative...

The amendments in my name in this group fall into two categories. I shall address Amendment No. 128 first, which would ensure that an order made to establish an estate agent redress scheme under new Section 23A, to be added to the 1979 Act, would be subject to the affirmative...

I do not think that they are even on the list. My experience of them certainly does not warrant them being on it. What will the consumer be faced with in the future? He will hope that the Bill will do something about estate agents, but all he will find...

I do not think that they are even on the list. My experience of them certainly does not warrant them being on it. What will the consumer be faced with in the future? He will hope that the Bill will do something about estate agents, but all he will find...

moved Amendment No. 104: 104: Clause 36, page 21, line 18, at end insert ““including companies and industry experts who would be affected by such an order”” The noble Baroness said: The amendment would ensure that where the Secretary of State extended functions of the National Consumer Council, he would...

moved Amendment No. 104: 104: Clause 36, page 21, line 18, at end insert ““including companies and industry experts who would be affected by such an order”” The noble Baroness said: The amendment would ensure that where the Secretary of State extended functions of the National Consumer Council, he would...

I recognise the strength of feeling on this issue and I thank the noble Earl, Lord Caithness, for his passionate, knowledgeable and thoughtful contribution. He has, of course, a great deal of experience in this field, which I am sure noble Lords appreciated even more when he moved his amendment....

I recognise the strength of feeling on this issue and I thank the noble Earl, Lord Caithness, for his passionate, knowledgeable and thoughtful contribution. He has, of course, a great deal of experience in this field, which I am sure noble Lords appreciated even more when he moved his amendment....

moved Amendment No. 123A: 123A: Before Clause 52, insert the following new Clause— (1) Section 1 of the Estate Agents Act 1979 (c. 38) (estate agency work) is amended as follows. (2) In subsection (1) after ““land”” insert ““or who wishes to let, rent or manage residential property””. (3) In...

moved Amendment No. 123A: 123A: Before Clause 52, insert the following new Clause— (1) Section 1 of the Estate Agents Act 1979 (c. 38) (estate agency work) is amended as follows. (2) In subsection (1) after ““land”” insert ““or who wishes to let, rent or manage residential property””. (3) In...

The noble Earl, Lord Caithness, has spoken to his amendment reasonably, modestly and with humour, but I do not agree with it. I express a great deal of doubt about it. As I understand it,the view of the then Labour Government in 1979 at the time of the Estate Agents...

The noble Earl, Lord Caithness, has spoken to his amendment reasonably, modestly and with humour, but I do not agree with it. I express a great deal of doubt about it. As I understand it,the view of the then Labour Government in 1979 at the time of the Estate Agents...

I support the Bill on this issue. I am always very dubious about people—it is usually Ministers—trailing the doctrine of unripe time as the justification for doing nothing. If we got anywhere near 2009 or 2010 there would be compelling arguments to take the matter on to 2014 or 2015...

I support the Bill on this issue. I am always very dubious about people—it is usually Ministers—trailing the doctrine of unripe time as the justification for doing nothing. If we got anywhere near 2009 or 2010 there would be compelling arguments to take the matter on to 2014 or 2015...

I would love to ask a question. The noble Lord’s arguments are well thought out and he knows the subject fantastically well; but I am worried about the flexibility and correctness of what Energywatch has been doing. The noble Lord rightly said that it has been very good and in...

I would love to ask a question. The noble Lord’s arguments are well thought out and he knows the subject fantastically well; but I am worried about the flexibility and correctness of what Energywatch has been doing. The noble Lord rightly said that it has been very good and in...

Here we move to Postwatch. Many of the arguments are similar to those regarding Energywatch, so I will not rehearse the generality of those. I will just say that the need for sectoral expertise is just the same, and we are worried about expertise being lost in the move. As...

Here we move to Postwatch. Many of the arguments are similar to those regarding Energywatch, so I will not rehearse the generality of those. I will just say that the need for sectoral expertise is just the same, and we are worried about expertise being lost in the move. As...

moved Amendment No. 101: 101: Clause 30, page 17, line 31, at end insert— ““( ) Such consultations, as set out in subsection (3), shall not take place before 2011.”” The noble Baroness said: The amendments would remove from the Bill the reserve power to bring the Consumer Council for...

moved Amendment No. 101: 101: Clause 30, page 17, line 31, at end insert— ““( ) Such consultations, as set out in subsection (3), shall not take place before 2011.”” The noble Baroness said: The amendments would remove from the Bill the reserve power to bring the Consumer Council for...

I have a feeling that we have been around the houses on this one either with regard to energy or to postal services. I thought that my noble friend Lord Whitty made the key point earlier: as long as the specific expertise in the particular segmented consumer bodies is not...

I have a feeling that we have been around the houses on this one either with regard to energy or to postal services. I thought that my noble friend Lord Whitty made the key point earlier: as long as the specific expertise in the particular segmented consumer bodies is not...

I would like to speak to this amendment which also stands in my name. I am at a wee bit of a loss to know why this subsection is in the Bill because you would imagine that if you request information, you then have the chance to publish it. So...

I would like to speak to this amendment which also stands in my name. I am at a wee bit of a loss to know why this subsection is in the Bill because you would imagine that if you request information, you then have the chance to publish it. So...

I thank the Minister for his response to a debate which has from time to time seemed rather unusual. I observe that he referred to the expense of publishing all the reports. However, I would not have thought that simply posting a report on a website would be hugely expensive....

I thank the Minister for his response to a debate which has from time to time seemed rather unusual. I observe that he referred to the expense of publishing all the reports. However, I would not have thought that simply posting a report on a website would be hugely expensive....