S.C.A.

Amendment Paper as at
Thursday 9th March 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 [7th March], as follows:—

Clauses 89 to 103; Clause 126; Clauses 104 to 123; Schedule 4; Clause 125; Clause 129; Clause 9; Clause 13; Clause 10; Clause 14; Clause 11; Clause 15; Clauses 16 to 19; Schedule 2; Clauses 20 to 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 35; Clause 68; Clauses 36 to 41; Clause 69; Clause 42; Clause 70; Clause 43; Clause 71; Clause 44; Clause 72; Clause 45; Clause 73; Clause 46; Clause 74; Clause 47; Clause 75; Clause 48; Clause 76; Clause 49; Clause 77; Clauses 50 to 57; Clause 78; Clause 58; Clause 79; Clauses 59 to 61; Clause 82; Clause 80; Clause 81; Clause 83; Schedule 3; Clause 124; Clauses 127 and 128; Clauses 130 to 132; Schedules 5 to 7; Clauses 133 and 134; new Clauses; new Schedules.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

297

Clause     9,     page     6,     line     8,     after 'contribution', insert ', which in any event will not increase costs by more than 2.5 per cent.'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

291

Clause     9,     page     6,     line     8,     leave out 'social or'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

292

Clause     9,     page     6,     line     8,     leave out 'or environmental'.

   

Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell

241

Clause     9,     page     6,     line     9,     after 'policies', insert ', in particular policies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in line with the target of a 20 per cent. cut in carbon dioxide emissions by the year 2010 and any other targets'.

   

Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing

134

Clause     9,     page     6,     line     9,     at end insert—

    '(1A) In preparing guidance under this section, the Secretary of State shall ensure that such guidance does not impose significant financial implications for consumers.'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

288

Clause     9,     page     6,     line     14,     at end insert—

    '( ) appropriate Select Committees of Parliament;'.

   

Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell

242

Clause     9,     page     6,     leave out lines 19 to 21 and insert—

'(d) any other persons or organisations with an interest in the matters contained within the guidance'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

345

Clause     9,     page     6,     line     25,     leave out 'forty' and insert 'sixty'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

346

Clause     9,     page     6,     line     34,     leave out 'forty' and insert 'sixty'.

   

Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing

206

Clause     9,     page     6,     line     41,     at end insert—

'Enhancement of competition and deregulation

4AC.—(1) In order to enhance competition and promote deregulation in the gas market the Secretary of State shall on or before the 30th September in each year prepare and lay before each House of Parliament a report which sets out— (a) the status of competition in the gas market; (b) any significant changes that have occurred in that market which have occurred during the previous 12 months; (c) a review of any legislation which may impede or discourage competition in, or deregulation of, that market; and (d) his recommendations on repealing, amending or enacting any legislation in order to enhance or reflect competition within that market or to promote its orderly deregulation.     (2) In this section "gas market" means the market in the United Kingdom for the conveyance of gas through pipes or the supply of gas.'.

---

   

Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell

243

Clause     13,     page     8,     line     42,     leave out 'from time to time' and insert 'at least every five years and on a long term basis'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

298

Clause     13,     page     8,     line     44,     after 'contribution', insert ', which in any event will not increase costs by more than 2.5 per cent.'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

293

Clause     13,     page     8,     line     44,     leave out 'social or'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

294

Clause     13,     page     8,     line     44,     leave out 'or environmental'.

   

Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell

244

Clause     13,     page     8,     line     45,     after 'policies', insert ', in particluar policies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in line with the target of a 20 per cent. cut in carbon dioxide emissiones by the year 2010 and any other targets'.

   

Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing

314

Clause     13,     page     8,     line     45,     at end insert—

    '(1A) In preparing guidance under this section, the Secretary of State shall ensure that such guidance does not impose significant financial implication for consumers.'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

289

Clause     13,     page     9,     line     5,     at end insert—

    '( ) appropriate Select Committees of Parliament;'.

   

Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell

245

Clause     13,     page     9,     leave out lines 10 and 12 and insert—

'(d) any other persons or organisations with an interest in the matters contained within the guidance'.

   

Norman Baker
Mr Andrew Stunell

228

Clause     13,     page     9,     line     14,     after 'section', insert 'will be based on long term vision and'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

347

Clause     13,     page     9,     line     16,     leave out 'forty' and insert 'sixty'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

348

Clause     13,     page     9,     line     25,     leave out 'forty' and insert 'sixty'.

   

Mr Nick Gibb
Mrs Eleanor Laing

207

Clause     13,     page     9,     line     32,     at end insert—

'Enhancement of competition and deregulation

3BA.—(1) In order to enhance competition and promote deregulation in the electricity market the Secretary of State shall on or before the 30th September in each year prepare and lay before each House of Parliament a report which sets out— (a) the status of competition in the electricity market; (b) any significant changes that have occurred in that market which have occurred during the previous 12 months; (c) a review of any legislation which may impede or discourage competition in, or deregulation of, that market; and (d) his recommendations on repealing, amending or enacting any legislation in order to enhance or reflect competition within that market or to promote its orderly deregulation.     (2) In this section "electricity market" means the market in the United Kingdom for the generation, transmission, distribution or supply of electricity.'.

---

   

Mrs Helen Liddell

182

Clause     10,     page     7,     line     2,     leave out 'Executive' and insert 'Commission'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

353

Clause     10,     page     7,     line     2,     after 'Executive', insert 'and any other relevant body'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

356

Clause     10,     page     7,     line     4,     at end insert—

    '(     ) The Secretary of State may require the Authority also to consult him about gas safety issues of particular descriptions.

    (     ) The Authority shall, in carrying out its functions under this Part, take into account any advice given by the Seceretary of State about any gas safety issue (whether or not in response to consultation under the above subsection.'

   

Mrs Helen Liddell

183

Clause     10,     page     7,     line     8,     leave out 'Executive' and insert 'Commission'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

351

Clause     10,     page     7,     line     11,     after 'through', insert 'fixed'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

352

Clause     10,     page     7,     line     12,     after 'through', insert 'fixed'.

   

Mrs Helen Liddell

184

Clause     10,     page     7,     line     17,     at end insert 'conveyed through pipes'.

---

   

Mrs Helen Liddell

191

Clause     14,     page     9,     line     36,     leave out 'Executive' and insert 'Commission'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

354

Clause     14,     page     9,     line     36,     after 'Executive', insert 'and any other relevant body'.

   

Mrs Helen Liddell

192

Clause     14,     page     9,     line     45,     leave out 'Executive' and insert 'Commission'.

   

Mr Ian Bruce [R]

355

Clause     14,     page     9,     line     45,     after 'Executive', insert 'and any other relevant body'.

---

   

Mrs Helen Liddell

185

Clause     11,     page     7,     line     19,     at beginning insert—

    '( ) Section 4AA does not apply in relation to the issuing by the Secretary of State of guidance under section 4AB.'

Prepared 9 Mar 2000