Government must not lose consumer expertise on Post Offices - Bruce

4.52.04pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 19th Mar 2007

Today's Second Reading of The Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill must be closely scrutinised says Mr Bruce

Gordon MP has warned the Government of the dangers of rushing head-first into a merger of Postwatch, Energywatch and the National Consumer Council without safeguarding the relevant expertise of staff.

The Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Bill which receives its Second Reading in the House of Commons today, contains the proposal to amalgamate the three bodies into one single entity also called the ' National Consumer Council'.

Commenting on the proposed amalgamation, Mr Bruce said:

"While the Liberal Democrats support this Bill and welcome proposals tightening up the regulation of Estate Agents there are many aspects of this Bill which still need to be properly addressed.

"It is vital that the sectoral expertise of the different consumer bodies is maintained. Postwatch in particular will find its expertise called upon during the predicted widespread closures of Post Offices as part of the Government's restructuring of the rural Post Office network. It is clear that the details of this Bill will need to be gone through with a fine-toothed comb in the Committee stages. "