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Wireless Telegraphy (Pre-Consolidation Amendments) Order 2006

My Lords, I think that I can explain very easily why this was put in the order. The order was put in the Communications Act 2003. In fact, it did not require great foresight. The issue of consolidating wireless telegraphy had been around since the 1990s when the Law Commission suggested it. Therefore, it was sensible forethought to say that we would need to come to that. The only thing that needs explaining is why it has taken from 2003 to today to do that: there were other parts of this legislation which required to be implemented and they were given a priority. I do not think that it will reduce the body of law. But the point of consolidation is not to reduce the body of law; it is to consolidate and to put it in one place. It is not usual to think in terms of regulatory impact assessment. It is assumed that there will be no major costs to business or adverse regulatory impact. This is essentially consolidation of existing legislation. Some of it is left in previous Bills because not every provision in the Acts being consolidated relates to wireless telegraphy. Therefore, it is not appropriate for all those provisions to be consolidated—repealed or re-enacted—because some of them cover other issues. Finally, on the question about the order not taking account of technological developments, that is always inherent in consolidation of this sort. One is not trying to move the legislation forward. One is simply trying to bring it together in one place. Where there are European developments taking place, people tend to want to see what those are before making changes to legislation. Otherwise, you simply have to do the exercise twice. Therefore, with those explanations of what we are doing, I hope that noble Lords will approve the order. On Question, Motion agreed to.