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Company Directors Disqualification (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005

rose to move, That the draft order laid before the House on 20 January be approved. The noble Lord said My Lords, the order introduces a specific measure that is broadly in line with one already in force in Great Britain by the enactment of the Enterprise Act 2002. I will comment briefly and say a few words about the order. The main purpose of the order is to protect consumers by providing a deterrent to company directors engaging in price fixing or other abuses of competition law. The order makes it possible for a director of a company that is in breach of competition law to be disqualified for up to 15 years. The order is considered to be non-controversial. Consultation was carried out in Northern Ireland. A small number of replies were received, the majority of which were favourable. I beg to move. Moved, That the draft order laid before the House on 20 January be approved.—(Lord Rooker.)