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Banking Bill

That may have been because I was concentrating on what I regarded as a more germane point. There was a hint in the amendment of an unfair commitment of funds in terms of a potential subsidy to a provider in circumstances for which we cannot envisage the justification. On the point made by the noble Baroness, of course a continuity obligation will be accompanied by considerable communication between the authorities and the service provider, particularly in the case that she has identified of a provision of a service that may be of a considerable duration and which is absolutely essential to the continuation of the enterprise. If a piece of investment is critical to continuing to provide the service, this would be likely to comprise part of what is ““reasonable consideration””, which was the subject of the discussion that we had on the previous amendments. I must refer back to the previous clause, as further detail may be provided in the orders made under Clause 69. I emphasise two things. First, there is bound to be considerable communication between the authorities and the service provider in the instance that the noble Baroness has identified. Secondly, that would need to be examined under the basis of reasonable consideration. I am against what the amendment would provide, which is a concept of a subsidy in circumstances where the service might be readily disposed of and obtained more cheaply elsewhere. That is the point that I was seeking to make.