S.C.A.
Amendment Paper as at
Tuesday 15th February 2000
STANDING COMMITTEE A
New Amendments handed in are marked thus *
UTILITIES BILL
NOTE
The Amendments have been arranged in accordance with the Order of the Committee [10th February], as follows:—
Clause 1; Clause 84; Schedule 1; Clause 2; Clause 6; Clause 85; Clause 3; Clause 86; Clauses 4 and 5; Clause 87; Clause 7; Clause 88; Clause 8; Clause 12; Clause 89; Clause 9; Clause 13; Clause 90; Clause 10; Clause 14; Clause 11; Clause 15; Clause 91; Clauses 16 to 19; Clause 92; Schedule 2; Clause 95; Clause 20; Clause 96; Clause 21; Clause 94; Clauses 22 to 24; Clause 93; Clauses 25 and 26; Clause 63; Clause 66; Clauses 27 and 28; Clause 64; Clause 29; Clause 62; Clauses 30 to 33; Clause 65; Clause 34; Clause 67; Clause 100; Clause 35; Clause 68; Clauses 36 to 41; Clause 69; Clause 42; Clause 70; Clause 43; Clause 71; Clause 44; Clause 72; Clause 101; Clause 45; Clause 73; Clause 46; Clause 74; Clause 47; Clause 75; Clause 97; Clause 102; Clause 48; Clause 76; Clause 98; Clause 49; Clause 77; Clause 99; Clauses 50 to 57; Clause 78; Clause 58; Clause 79; Clauses 59 to 61; Clause 82; Clause 80; Clause 81; Clause 83; Clauses 103 to 105; Schedule 4; Clause 106; Schedule 3; Clauses 107 to 132; Schedules 5 to 7; Clauses 133 and 134; new Clauses; new Schedules.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
64
Clause 1, page 1, line 6, leave out 'Gas and Electricity' and insert 'Energy'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
66
Clause 1, page 1, line 6, leave out 'Gas and Electricity Markets' and insert 'Energy Intervention'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
65
Clause 1, page 1, line 9, leave out 'Gas and Electricity' and insert 'Energy'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
67
Clause 1, page 1, line 9, leave out 'Gas and Electricity Markets' and insert 'Energy Intervention'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
68
Clause 1, page 1, line 10, leave out 'Markets' and insert 'Intervention'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
70
Clause 1, page 1, line 10, leave out 'Markets Authority' and insert 'Regulator'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
72
Clause 1, page 1, line 18, at end add—
'(5) The Authority will be wound up 5 years from the date of commencement of its duties.'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
80
Clause 84, page 91, line 3, leave out 'Telecommunications' and insert 'Communications'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
83
Clause 84, page 91, line 3, leave out 'Telecommunications' and insert 'E-Communications'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
81
Clause 84, page 91, line 8, leave out 'Telecommunications' and insert 'Communications'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
84
Clause 84, page 91, line 8, leave out 'Telecommunications' and insert 'E-Communications'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
86
Clause 84, page 91, leave out lines 15 to 17.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
27
Clause 84, page 91, line 17, at end insert—
'(3A) Appointments to the Authority shall be made in accordance with criteria which shall be published by the Secretary of State prior to the coming into force of this section.
(3B) Such criteria referred to in subsection (4) above shall include the requirement for at least one person with relevant experience in the telecommunications industry.'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
82
Clause 84, page 91, line 22, leave out 'Telecommunications' and insert 'Communications'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
85
Clause 84, page 91, line 22, leave out 'Telecommunications' and insert 'E-Communications'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
87
Clause 84, page 91, line 23, at end add—
'(4) The Authority will be wound up 5 years from the date of commencement of its duties.'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
29
Schedule 1, page 152, line 5, after 'two', insert 'and no more than five.'.
Mr Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell
13
Schedule 1, page 152, line 6, after 'State', insert 'who shall be executive directors.'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
34
Schedule 1, page 152, line 6, at end insert 'after consultations with the Trade and Industry Committee of the House of Commons.'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
35
Schedule 1, page 152, line 7, after 'chairman', insert 'and the Trade and Industry Committee of the House of Commons.'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
73
Schedule 1, page 152, line 7, after 'chairman', insert 'and the Commissioner for Public Appointments'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
74
Schedule 1, page 152, line 7, after 'chairman', insert 'and the Trade and Industry Select Committee'.
Mr Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell
14
Schedule 1, page 152, line 8, after 'member', insert 'and shall have agreed to—
(a) securing that a least one member shall have experience in relation to the interests of consumers as set out in Section 8(3), and
(b) whether any person he proposes to appoint has any financial or other interest which is likely to prejudice the exercise of his duties.'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
28
Schedule 1, page 152, line 8, at end insert—
'(3) Appointments to the Authority shall be made in accordance with criteria which shall be published by the Secretary of State prior to the coming into force of this section.
(4) Such criteria referred to in subsection (3) above shall include the requirement for at least one person with relevant experience in the gas and electricity industries.'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
75
Schedule 1, page 152, line 8, at end insert—
'(3) All potential members before being confirmed in office shall publish a statement of their party political affiliations and donations and make a full declaration of past interests that may be relevant to their appointment.'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
76
Schedule 1, page 152, line 8, at end insert—
'(3) The Secretary of State will have regard to the qualifications and experience of the members to ensure there is a balance and range of knowledge and experience over the energy producing and supplying industries and of the customers that they serve.'.
Mr Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
15
Schedule 1, page 152, line 15, leave out 'five' and insert 'three'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
77
Schedule 1, page 152, line 15, leave out 'five' and insert 'four'.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
79
Schedule 1, page 152, line 15, leave out 'five' and insert 'two'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
30
Schedule 1, page 152, line 19, leave out 'misbehaviour' and insert 'incompetence'.
Mrs Helen Liddell
10
Schedule 1, page 152, line 22, leave out 'may' and insert 'shall'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
31
Schedule 1, page 152, line 35, at end insert—
'(4) The approval of the Treasury shall be required for the making of a determination under this paragraph.'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
32
Schedule 1, page 152, line 37, after 'Civil Service', insert 'and the Treasury'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
33
Schedule 1, page 153, line 1, leave out '(including quorum)', and insert 'but such procedures must include a minimum quorum of either 50 per cent. of its membership or 3, whichever is the greater.'.
Mrs Helen Liddell
11
Schedule 1, page 153, line 5, at beginning insert—
'(1) The application of the seal of the Authority to a statutory instrument shall be authenticated by the signature of the chairman or by some other person who has been authorised by the Authority to act for that purpose.
(2)'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
36
Schedule 1, page 153, line 22, leave out paragraph 11.
Mr Ian Bruce [R]
93
*Clause 2, page 1, line 19, leave out subsections (1) and (2) and insert—
'(1) The National Consumer Council (in this Part referred to as "the Council") shall carry out the functions of the Council under this Act.'.
