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Digital Economy Bill [HL]

My Lords, I apologise for disturbing the even flow of the Minister’s speech, but I wanted the opportunity to intervene very briefly. First, we on these Benches strongly support the new government amendments. As the Minister said, we originally suggested a period of four years, but due to the masterly compromise suggested by the noble Lord, Lord Puttnam, we are very happy with the additional one year. I believe that industry will be happier with that rather longer period, since it was felt that having to report every two years was going to be unduly onerous. I also want to put on record that we are strongly of the view that these reports must be prepared by Ofcom, and that it is not good enough to wait until the Government requisition a report from Ofcom. Therefore, we are not of the view that Amendment 10 is desirable.