Speeches by Wood.

“The amendments are all about ensuring that there is not just independent oversight but an effective independent channel of appeal against information notices that does not just go back to the same organisation that issued the original notice. Clause 4 will allow for the person to whom the information notice is given to…”

“I beg to move amendment 15, in clause 4, page 3, line 33, leave out “Minister” and insert “First Tier Tribunal”.”

“As I stated, those are largely probing amendments in areas that we would like to see the Government work on during the passage of the Bill. However, for now, we do not intend to push them to a vote. Clause 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clause 4 Reviews”

“It is an honour to rise today to speak on behalf of the very many family businesses in Kingswinford and South Staffordshire, because family businesses are at the heart of our local communities as well as at the heart of our local economies. They provide employment for nearly 14 million people, they contribute £575 bill…”

“People throughout the United Kingdom will be disgusted if former terrorists such as Gerry Adams receive compensation from the taxpayer because of Labour’s decision to repeal the legacy Act without putting something in its place. Will the Secretary of State finally commit himself to legislating immediately to prevent th…”

“Q The provisions of the Bill are not confined to financial institutions, are they? John Smart: They are not, no. I do not know which institutions are likely to be required to provide information. There will be individuals and institutions. Other institutions might find it more difficult, but there is an appeals process…”

“Q Why does the decision seem to have been taken not to introduce these as statutory instruments? Andrew Western: The codes of practice?”

“Q Have you read it? Andrew Western: Not recently, but I did when I first became a Minister.”

“Q But Andrew, you will be aware that new statutory instruments can be introduced and passed in Parliament in the space of six weeks. It is not an obstacle to an iterative approach if you choose to have the codes of practice introduced through statutory instruments, as happens in some areas, and take an approach that ac…”

“Yes. Andrew Western: Because they are iterative documents that will change as we go through the test-and-learn phase. In particular, we are looking to introduce the eligibility verification measure in quite a cautious manner initially to check that it works, and to check that we do not have the sort of overreach that s…”

“Q Following that, the document states that “if Parliament is to be asked to enact statutory provisions relating to a code,” which appears to be the case in this instance, “a draft of the proposed code should if at all possible be made available so that the appropriateness of the statutory provisions can be properly con…”

“Q The document goes on to say that “the drafting of the code ought to begin early enough to enable a decision as to whether statutory provision is required”. Has that drafting been done early enough? Andrew Western: As I said, we will debate this in more detail as we come to the relevant stages. I think that we have do…”

“Q In appendix E, which relates to codes of practice and legislation, the first paragraph says: “Where it is proposed to introduce a code of practice in a way or for a purpose which departs from the guidance below, Ministers should be aware that this is likely to be controversial, particularly in the House of Lords.” Ha…”

“It is to you both as Ministers. It is the Government’s “Guide to Making Legislation”. Andrew Western: Yes.”

“Q If I may continue, and I am drawing to a conclusion, the Cabinet Office has a document, “Guide to Making Legislation”. Are you aware of it? Andrew Western: Is that to me or Georgia?”

“Q This is looking a lot like the King Henry VIII powers that the Government railed against in opposition for many years. Andrew Western: I would not accept that and I do not think that that is the case. I would say that we require that flexibility. Even with the six weeks, if there are problems in the process, we would…”

“Q So they will be published, but in terms of scrutiny, will there be any role for Parliament in agreeing or disregarding those codes? Andrew Western: I am happy to confirm precisely—because it may be that Members, as we go through the Committee stage, make it very clear what their expectations would be—what the current…”

“Q What role will Parliament have in scrutinising those codes of practice? Andrew Western: The codes of practice will be laid before both Houses. They will be published as the legislation sets out.”

“Q You say that you cannot bring forward the code at this point, because the Bill may change depending on amendments, yet you are able to bring forward a draft code ahead of the House of Lords Committee stage, where presumably, you will have rather less control over what amendments are passed. Surely if that argument we…”

“Q Andrew, you have just come out of a period in opposition. You will understand the difficulty that this puts on Committee members being asked to consider legislation, fundamental aspects of which will depend on details in the code of practice. You seem to be suggesting that we will not see them until the House of Comm…”