---

Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [HL]

I support the amendment proposed by the noble Lord, Lord Goodlad, which also stands in my name and that of my noble friend Lady Hamwee. As the noble Lord said, the amendment raises a significant point of principle. It is appropriate that he comes here as chair of the Select Committee. Had his committee’s recommendations not predated the meeting of the Regulatory Reform and Delegated Powers Committee when we were about to consider the matter, we would have made exactly the same points in that committee as the noble Lord, Lord Goodlad, did with his committee. I entirely agree with the comments that he made in relation to the comment of the noble Lord, Lord Jones of Birmingham, that the provision is intended to be used only for minor offences. If that is the case, it should be clearly stated in the Bill as the noble Lord said, rather than left to unenforceable ministerial guidance. That point goes very much to the concern that the noble Lord made earlier about the reaction of the public. You have only to see the reaction of the public when there is some question of mistaken identity with regard to a motoring or a parking offence. I would not believe that the regulators in our modern, multi-ethnic world will always get the names right of the people on whom they are seeking to impose albeit a small penalty. This raises a fundamental point of principle on the human rights of our citizens, and I have delight in supporting the amendment that the noble Lord, Lord Goodlad, has proposed.