S.C.A.
Amendment Paper as at
Tuesday 22nd February 2000
STANDING COMMITTEE A
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 Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
215
Clause 4, page 2, line 35, leave out 'other than those comprising' and insert 'and'.
Mrs Helen Liddell
3
Clause 4, page 2, line 38, leave out subsection (2) and insert—
'() That description must include the objectives of each project.
() The forward work programme for any year shall also include an estimate of the overall expenditure which the Authority or the Council expects to incur during the year in the exercise of its functions.'
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
216
Clause 4, page 2, line 39, leave out 'each project' and insert 'any such projects'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
217
Clause 4, page 2, line 40, leave out 'overall'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
218
Clause 4, page 2, line 41, leave out from 'year' to end of line and insert 'including an estimate of the costs of each project it plans to undertake'.
Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell
103
Clause 4, page 2, line 43, after 'shall', insert 'consult with bodies they consider appropriate and'.
Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell
104
Clause 4, page 3, line 4, at end insert 'and give reasons for their decision for accepting or rejecting these representations or objections'.
Mrs Helen Liddell
4
Clause 4, page 3, line 9, leave out 'the notice under subsection (3)' and insert 'any notice given by it under subsection (3)'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
121
Clause 4, page 3, line 10, after "Authority", insert ', Trade and Industry Committee of the House of Commons.'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
122
Clause 4, page 3, line 10, at end insert—
(6) The Authority must send a copy of any notice given by it under subsection (3) to the Council, Trade and Industry Committee of the House of Commons and the Secretary of State.'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
219
Clause 5, page 3, line 16, at end insert, ', and
(c) the operation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Authority and the Council'.
Mrs Helen Liddell
5
Clause 5, page 3, line 19, leave out from 'functions' to end of line 22 and insert 'including in particular developments in competition between persons engaged in, or in commercial activities connected with—
(i) the shipping, transportation or supply of gas conveyed through pipes; or
(ii) the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity;'.
Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell
105
Clause 5, page 3, line 21, after 'competition', insert 'and progress on social and environmental functions'.
Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell
106
Clause 5, page 3, line 24, at end insert—
'( ) a report on the financial or other interests of members of the Authority which might prejudice the exercise of his duties.'.
Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell
107
Clause 5, page 3, line 24, at end insert—
'( ) a report on implementation of guidance issued under sections 9 and 13.'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
123
Clause 5, page 3, line 28, at end insert—
'(e) an estimated timetable of when, if at all, it expects competitions in each particular sector to be sufficient to enable the Authority to withdraw from regulating that particular sector.'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
124
Clause 5, page 3, line 28, at end insert—
'(e) a Regulatory Impact Assessment in respect of additional costs imposed on licence holders as a result of the exercise by the Authority, Council or Secretary of State of powers contained in the Act together with an assessment of the extent to which such additional costs will be borne by the consumer'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
128
Clause 5, page 3, line 28, at end insert—
'(e) an assessment of the purpose and justification of any existing regulatory requirements and the extent to which the Authority believes they may no longer be required.'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
125
Clause 5, page 3, line 43, after 'Council', insert—'and the Trade and Industry Committee of the House of Commons.'.
Mrs Helen Liddell
6
Clause 5, page 4, line 4, at end insert—
'() Section 125(1) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 (annual and other reports) does not apply to activities of the Competition Commission on which the Authority is required to report under this section.'
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
220
Clause 5, page 4, line 8, at end insert—
'(10) The Authority shall ensure that in each period of not less than two years it requests the National Audit Office to investigate and report on the degree to which the Authority is achieving its objectives in the most cost effective manner possible'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
221
Clause 87, page 92, line 41, leave out 'other than those comprising' and insert 'and'.
Mrs Helen Liddell
7
Clause 87, page 93, leave out lines 1 to 5 and insert—
'() That description must include the objectives of each project.
() The forward work programme for any year shall also include an estimate of the overall expenditure which the Authority or the Council expects to incur during the year in the exercise of its functions.'
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
222
Clause 87, page 93, line 2, leave out 'the project' and insert 'any such projects'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
223
Clause 87, page 93, line 3, leave out 'overall'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
224
Clause 87, page 93, line 4, leave out from 'year' to end of line 5 and insert 'including an estimate of the costs of each project it plans to undertake'.
Mrs Helen Liddell
8
Clause 87, page 93, line 19, leave out 'the notice under subsection (3)' and insert 'any notice given by it under subsection (3)'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
126
Clause 87, page 93, line 20, after 'Authority', insert—', Trade and Industry Committee of the House of Commons.'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
127
Clause 87, page 93, line 20, at end insert—
'(6) The Authority must send a copy of any notice given by it under subsection (3) at the Council, Trade and Industry Committee of the House of Commons and the Secretary of State.'.
Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing
225
Clause 87, page 93, line 28, at end insert ', and
(c) the operation of the of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Authority and the Council'.
Mrs Helen Liddell
9
Clause 87, page 93, leave out lines 33 and 34 and insert 'competition between persons engaged in commercial activities connected with telecommunications in the United Kingdom;'.
Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell
108
Clause 87, page 93, line 36, at end insert—
'( ) a report on implementation of guidance issued under sections 9 and 13.'.
