Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [HL]

I support the amendment tabled by my noble friend Lord Hodgson which stipulates that regulatory activity should be conducted to ensure regulatory stability. My noble friend has justified the clause from a business perspective and I would like to do the same from a consumer perspective. As the Committee will be aware, if regulations are inconsistent, there could be variations in services and standards from one business to the next. It is difficult for the consumer who will surely be disadvantaged if the Government are unable to issue clear and consistent directions. Inconsistency will lead again to the LBRO being swamped with complaints; that is, assuming that the consumer will be aware that yet another regulatory body has been established and that their complaint should be directed here rather than to their local authority which no longer has power to officiate in this. It seems certain that the introduction of such a system will mean that consumer concerns will take even longer to be addressed than they are now. Realising that this is a real and potential problem, will the Minister consider this amendment, if only to appease me, so that the consumer will be protected from the effects of the Bill’s increasing bureaucracy?