§ Mr Sean HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what would be the cost to the Exchequer of implementing section 22 of the Estate Agents Act 1979;
(2) when he expects to give a considered response to the recommendation of Professor Likierman on the implementation of section 22 of the Estate Agents Act 1979;
(3) whether he has consulted the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the National Association of Estate Agents, the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers, and the Law Society regarding the main conclusions of the Likierman report;
(4) whether he plans to implement the recommendation in the Likierman report, that estate agents should be brought under greater control through tests of competence.
§ Mr. ForthThe arguments for and against implementation of section 22 of the Estate Agents Act 1979 were examined in the review of estate agency which I completed in June. I decided against implementation for reasons which are set out in my report, copies of which are in the Library. The Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, the National Association of Estate Agents, the Incorporated Society of Valuers and Auctioneers and the Law Society were all consulted in the course of my review. Accordingly, I have no plans to consult these bodies about the 285W recommendation in the Likierman report on section 22. No estimate has been made of the cost to the Exchequer of implementing section 22.