Part 1 The National Consumer Council

The National Consumer Council and territorial committees

• 1 Establishment of the National Consumer Council and its territorial committees
• 2 The territorial committees

“Consumer”, “consumer matters” and “designated consumers”

• 3 “Consumer” and “consumer matters”
• 4 “Designated consumers”

Determining priorities

• 5 Forward work programmes
• 6 General provision about functions

Annual report

• 7 Annual report

The core functions

• 8 The representative function
• 9 The research function
• 10 The information function

Powers of investigation

• 11 General powers of investigation
• 12 Investigation of complaints made by vulnerable designated consumers
• 13 Investigation of complaints relating to disconnection of gas or electricity
• 14 Reference of matters to the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority
• 15 Reference of matters to the Postal Services Commission
• 16 Investigations relating to public post offices

Other functions of the Council

• 17 Reports by the Council
• 18 Secretary of State's power to require reports
• 19 Advice, information and guidance
• 20 Duty to enter into co-operation arrangements
• 21 Power to co-operate and give assistance
• 22 Voluntary activities
• 23 Supplementary powers etc

Information

• 24 Provision of information to the Council
• 25 Enforcement by regulator of section 24 notice
• 26 Enforcement by court of section 24 notice
• 27 Provision of information by the Council
• 28 Exemptions from requirements to provide information
• 29 Disclosure of information

Abolition of consumer bodies

• 30 Abolition of “Energywatch” and “Postwatch”
• 31 Designation of the Consumer Council for Water for abolition
• 32 Transfer orders and abolition orders
• 33 Supplementary provision about transfer and abolition orders

Abolition: supplementary provision

• 34 Compensation for loss of office
• 35 Transfer of property etc
• 36 Directions

Alteration of the Council's functions

• 37 Extension of the Council's functions: Great Britain
• 38 Removal of the Council's functions in relation to Northern Ireland

Representation on other consumer panels

• 39 The Financial Services Consumer Panel
• 40 The OFCOM Consumer Panel

Interpretation

• 41 Interpretation of Part 1

Part 2 Complaints Handling and Redress Schemes

Introductory

• 42 Interpretation of Part 2

Standards for handling complaints

• 43 Standards for handling complaints
• 44 Requirements for making regulations under section 43
• 45 Information with respect to compliance with complaints handling standards
• 46 Supply of information to consumers

Requirements relating to redress schemes

• 47 Membership of redress scheme
• 48 Membership of redress schemes: supplementary
• 49 Approval of redress schemes
• 50 Approval of redress schemes: supplementary
• 51 Procedure for refusing or withdrawing approval

Enforcement

• 52 Enforcement of requirements imposed under Part 2

Part 3 Amendment of the Estate Agents Act 1979

Estate agents' duties

• 53 Membership of redress schemes
• 54 Duty to keep records

Prohibition and warning orders

• 55 Grounds for prohibition orders
• 56 Grounds for warning orders

Investigatory powers

• 57 Powers of entry and inspection
• 58 Failure to produce information

Part 4 Miscellaneous and General

Contracts concluded away from business premises

• 59 Contracts concluded away from business premises

Subordinate legislation

• 60 Orders and regulations
• 61 Directions
• 62 Parliamentary control of orders and regulations

Amendments, transitional provision and repeals

• 63 Minor, consequential and transitional provision
• 64 Repeals

General

• 65 Extent
• 66 Commencement
• 67 Short title

SCHEDULE 1 The National Consumer Council

• Part 1 Members of the Council
• Part 2 Staff of the Council
• Part 3 Territorial, Regional and Other Committees
• Part 4 Procedure etc
• Part 5 Funding and Accounts
• Part 6 Status etc

• SCHEDULE 2 Enforcement of Information Requirements
• SCHEDULE 3 Abolition of Consumer Bodies: Transitional Provision
• SCHEDULE 4 Transfer of Property etc to Council
• SCHEDULE 5 Information Relating to Compliance with Complaints Handling Standards
• SCHEDULE 6 Estate Agents' Redress Schemes
• SCHEDULE 7 Minor and Consequential Amendments
• SCHEDULE 8 Repeals