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Baroness Hollis of Heigham: My Lords, the noble Lord is quite right. We have already discussed amendments tabled by the noble Lord to reverse the changes made by "category 3" of the Government's amendments. That category of amendments made various improvements to Clause 17. In the process, it made Clause 17 too unwieldy and, therefore, as the noble Lord rightly said, "category 4" was produced, which is designed basically to restructure Clause 17 into two clauses: Clause 17 will deal with notices, and Clause 18 will deal with "Decisions after final notice".
Perhaps I may retrace my steps and point out to the House that, originally, Clause 17 covered both aspects of the process of finalising awards at the end of the year: first, the process of issuing notices to claimants. Claimants will then confirm that the information held by the board is correct—or, if it is not correct, will provide up-to-date information; and, secondly, the subsequent decisions about claimants' entitlement made by the board on the basis of the information that it holds, once claimants have been given the opportunity to confirm or correct that information.
However, now that Clause 17 has been split, it covers only the first of those two aspects of the end-of-year process—the issuing of notices to claimants so that they can check the validity of the information. The second aspect—the making by the board of final decisions about entitlement—is now covered by Clause 18. Although there is no change in substance, the drafting reflects the new restructuring processes. I wonder whether I need say any more. Indeed, the noble Lord was exactly right in his description. I hope, therefore, that he will feel able to withdraw his amendment. I believe that the Bill will now be clearer to those who read it as a result of these changes.
Lord Higgins: My Lords, I entirely agree with the Minister. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
[Amendments Nos. 55 and 56 not moved.]
Clause 18 [Decisions after final notice]:
Clause 19 [Power to enquire into awards]:
[Amendments Nos. 58 to 73 not moved.]
Clause 20 [Decisions on discovery]:
[Amendments Nos. 74 to 85 not moved.]
Clause 22 [Information etc. requirements: supplementary]:
[Amendments Nos. 86 and 87 not moved.]
Lord Bassam of Brighton: My Lords, I beg to move that further consideration on Report be now adjourned.
Moved accordingly, and, on Question, Motion agreed to.
- House adjourned at twenty-three minutes past nine o'clock.
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