Speeches by Baldwin.

“What changes to governance would you want to see? I cannot see, with the current arrangements, how you can avoid that risk of it becoming a Treasury slush fund. Does anyone else want to come in on this particular topic? Mr Cummings, with your expertise on governance, would you like to see some changes in governance?”

“Do the things I listed make it a credible investment platform for your members?”

“I will go back to Mr Threlfall, if I may, just on the governance question, because the economic and fiscal outlook from our friends at the OBR noted that the new debt measure that the Chancellor is using creates incentives for the Government to invest through loans and equity injections rather than through direct spend…”

“We certainly do hope that, yes.”

“I beg to move amendment 3, in clause 1, page 1, line 9, leave out subsection (2). This amendment removes the Secretary of State’s ability to make regulations about the marketing or use of products in the United Kingdom which corresponds, or is similar to, a provision of relevant EU law for the purpose of reducing or mi…”

“I listened carefully to the Minister. If I heard him correctly, he basically said that these kinds of skeleton Bills exist, and therefore, despite the objections of his Secretary of State in the last Parliament, he will persist in supporting legislation that continues this practice, which has been so soundly described …”

“The Minister refers to the Government’s decision to pursue so many skeleton powers in the Bill, and says the Secretary of State now disagrees with what he said back in 2018. Can the Minister elaborate on what has happened in the real world to cause the Secretary of State to have such a damascene conversion?”

“Once again, the amendments would remove Henry VIII powers and make regulations subject to the affirmative procedure. Amendment 10 relates to the amendment or repealing, in consequence of the Bill, of provisions made by the Gun Barrel Proof Acts 1868 to 1978. We want to prevent regulations made under the Bill from amend…”

“So we will not be taking decisions on them now, but I would like to reserve the right to ask the Committee’s opinion later.”

“Given that the Minister just admitted that the Government had to amend the clause in the other place because of its extensive Henry VIII powers, and that some remain in the clause, we would like to divide the Committee. Question put, That the clause stand part of the Bill.”

“On the surface, clause 11 looks like just an interpretation clause, but there is one provision about which I would like a little elaboration from the Minister. An online marketplace is defined as “a service or feature of a service on…a website or part of a website…a mobile application, or…any other platform by means of…”

“Will the Minister be kind enough to point out where that use of the affirmative procedure is set out in legislation?”

“What a great pleasure it is to serve under your chairmanship this morning, Sir John, and for the duration of this Bill Committee. I am shall start by indulging the Committee with a little bit of background on the reasons behind the amendments in this group. As colleagues will have noted, the Bill gives sweeping powers …”

“I beg to move amendment 14, in clause 1, page 1, line 3, leave out subsection (1). This amendment seeks to remove the broad powers granted to the Secretary of State under product regulations, when defining and regulating risks and determining what constitutes efficient or effective product operation.”

“Forgive me, Ms Vaz; it is getting quite late in the afternoon. The Minister’s amendment to line 20 of clause 12 leaves out “7 to 10” and inserts “7, 8 and 10”. Could I clarify what the “9” is a reference to? In which clause is the “9” referenced? I am not following it, because clause 12 seems to have seven subsections.”

“I seek the Committee’s decision on the amendment. Question put, That the amendment be made.”

“Amendment 30 continues some of the themes around the enforcement powers on product regulation. It leaves out subsection (7), which is on sanctions for non-compliance with metrology regulations. Here again is the amorphous concept of a relevant authority that is empowered by metrology regulations. Subsection (7) talks a…”

“I beg to move amendment 30, in clause 6, page 7, line 27, leave out subsection (7).”

“I will not withdraw my amendment, because I am not sure that I heard reassuring words from the Minister that trading standards officers are not going to sweep through the marketplaces of this land and require people to cease doing something that they would not know, from the Bill as it stands, not to do. I will press a…”

“I beg to move amendment 23, in clause 3, page 4, line 8, leave out subsection (1).”