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Digital Economy Bill [HL]

My Lords, Amendments 99 and 117 are probing amendments to explore the new body and its responsibilities. The material that we have recently been given appears to confirm that the new body is still unconfirmed—if my English is not too upside down. It is possible that all functions will remain within Ofcom. Can the Minister confirm that this will be the case? What advantages does the Minister see the new body having over leaving all functions in-house? If Ofcom decides to outsource its responsibilities, will it fund the body itself or will it apply to the Government for new funds to pay for it? What circumstances could lead to more than one new body being needed? This Government have a record of creating quangos and a seemingly unabated appetite for more. It would therefore be nice to know more about it. If a body is created, is it to have solely an administrative function? Clause 8 suggests that its role could be much larger and involve a quasi-judicial role in resolving copyright disputes. If this is the case, what interaction will the body have with the tribunal system that will be established under later clauses? I hope the Minister will take this opportunity to give us a great deal more detail about this new body, which may or may not come to life. I beg to move.