Draft Consumer Rights Act 2015 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2015 Draft Enterprise Act 2002 (Part 8 Domestic Infringements) Order 2015

Debate between Marie Rimmer and Nick Boles

Monday 7th September 2015 General Committees

[Nick Boles]

The hon. Lady is seeking to suggest that I have changed the Government’s policy. I would point out a couple of facts to her. First, this Government are not the previous Government—there was an election. Secondly, I was not the Minister then, Thirdly, I have made no statement that we are changing policy on this issue, but have simply said that we are not yet applying the particular, technical provisions of the regulations to the specified sectors while we conduct further conversations with the industry. If there is a change of policy relative to that discussed in the Public Bill Committee under the previous Government, we will bring that policy change to the House, and I have no doubt that she will subject it to her normal, inquisitorial treatment. However, we are not there yet, so I urge her to wait a little longer while we talk to the industry.

[Marie Rimmer (St Helens South and Whiston) (Lab)]

Forgive me if I am going out of bounds a bit, Mr Hamilton, but 75% of rail users are not aware of, or know very little about, the arrangements for compensation or their rights to it now, so how will the Minister take that into consideration? People who do not know their rights do not have rights. How often are the arrangements afforded to the individuals affected? If rights in this area are not brought into the Consumer Rights Act through this statutory instrument, how will people have those rights in future?

[Nick Boles]

The hon. Lady makes a very good point. It is a general problem with consumer protection that oftentimes the people who most need that protection are not aware of the provisions for it. That is one of the key motivations for this legislation: to make consumer rights clearer and more consistent. However, as I said earlier, that does not necessarily mean that there cannot be more than one arrangement to provide such protection. That is why we will continue to talk to the industry. There are lots of bodies representing customers and passengers in the affected sectors, all of which will be able to state their case, make their arguments and provide evidence. No final policy decisions have been made; it is simply that at the moment—today, in this Committee—we are not applying the provisions in the Consumer Rights Act to the specified sectors, while we continue the conversation with them.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved,

That the Committee has considered the draft Consumer Rights Act 2015 (Consequential Amendments) Order 2015.

draft enterprise act 2002 (part 8 domestic infringements) order 2015

Resolved,

That the Committee has considered the draft Enterprise Act 2002 (Part 8 Domestic Infringements) Order 2015. —(Nick Boles.)