2.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3), the OFT’s power under Part 1 of the 2002 Act to support a public consumer advice scheme is, so far as regards support of a scheme that takes the form of providing, or securing the provision of, an arrangement for giving advice without charge to individual consumers on matters personal to them, transferred to Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland.
(2) The function transferred may be exercised by Citizens Advice or Citizens Advice Scotland or by them jointly.
(3) The OFT’s power to support a public consumer advice scheme in that manner is abolished in relation to Northern Ireland, except so far as that function relates to the giving of advice relating to postal services.
(4) In this article—
“Citizens Advice” means the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux(1);
“Citizens Advice Scotland” means the Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux(2); and
“the OFT” means the Office of Fair Trading.
The National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux is a company limited by guarantee, formed and registered under the Companies Act 2006 (c.46) with the company number 1436945, and a registered charity with the number 279057.
The Scottish Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux is a company limited by guarantee, formed and registered under the Companies Act 2006 (c.46) with the company number 89892, and a registered charity with the number SC016637.