Programme motion agreed to. Written evidence (Reporting to the House) motion agreed to. Clauses 1 to 7 and Schedule 1 discussed with new clauses and amendments. Clause 1, amendment 5 negatived on division (3 to 11). Clause 1, amendment 6 negatived on division (3 to 11). Clause 1, amendment 25 negatived on division (2 to 11). Clause 1, amendment 7 negatived on division (5 to 11). Clause 1, amendment 8 negatived on division (3 to 11). Clause 1, amendment 9 negatived on division (3 to 11). Clauses 1 to 6 agreed to. Schedule 1, amendment 10 negatived on division (5 to 10). Schedule 1, amendment 11 negatived on division (5 to 10). Schedule 1 agreed to. Clause 7 under consideration.

Programme motion agreed to. Written evidence (Reporting to the House) motion agreed to. Clauses 1 to 7 and Schedule 1 discussed with new clauses and amendments. Clause 1, amendment 5 negatived on division (3 to 11). Clause 1, amendment 6 negatived on division (3 to 11). Clause 1, amendment 25...

Lords motion to take note of the Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union regarding Cooperation on the Application of their Respective Competition Laws. Agreed to on question.

Lords motion to take note of the Agreement between the United Kingdom and the European Union regarding Cooperation on the Application of their Respective Competition Laws. Agreed to on question.

My Lords, I am grateful to have this opportunity to bring forward a debate on the co-operation between the United Kingdom and the European Union in the application of our respective competition laws, the subject of the agreement that we are noting today.

Our competition regime is based on rules established...

My Lords, I am grateful to have this opportunity to bring forward a debate on the co-operation between the United Kingdom and the European Union in the application of our respective competition laws, the subject of the agreement that we are noting today.

Our competition regime is based on rules established...

My Lords, it is a real pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Lansley, who is expert, experienced and rightly much admired for his distinction. He has opened this debate showing that expertise, experience and distinction. I declare a past interest: for eight years, I was one of the part-time...

My Lords, it is a real pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Lansley, who is expert, experienced and rightly much admired for his distinction. He has opened this debate showing that expertise, experience and distinction. I declare a past interest: for eight years, I was one of the part-time...

My Lords, I am genuinely grateful to both noble Lords for their technical knowledge and for introducing this debate. I freely admit that I am not an expert in this area, much as I believe strongly in effective competition law, but the report from the European Affairs Committee suggests that...

My Lords, I am genuinely grateful to both noble Lords for their technical knowledge and for introducing this debate. I freely admit that I am not an expert in this area, much as I believe strongly in effective competition law, but the report from the European Affairs Committee suggests that...

My Lords, we are all very grateful to my noble friend Lord Lansley not only for securing this debate but for delivering what I found to be one of the most impressive speeches I have heard on this subject, displaying a wide knowledge of not only the background, but the...

My Lords, we are all very grateful to my noble friend Lord Lansley not only for securing this debate but for delivering what I found to be one of the most impressive speeches I have heard on this subject, displaying a wide knowledge of not only the background, but the...

My Lords, I am very pleased to respond for the Government. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Lansley, for securing this debate and all noble Lords who have contributed today on such an important topic. I was trying to list each of their experiences, expertise and knowledge, which are highly...

My Lords, I am very pleased to respond for the Government. I thank the noble Lord, Lord Lansley, for securing this debate and all noble Lords who have contributed today on such an important topic. I was trying to list each of their experiences, expertise and knowledge, which are highly...

If I may say so, it would be a great relief to us all if the Minister could tell us when the competition reform Bill is going to be laid before Parliament. Can she give us a rough idea? Also, are the Government still committed to the commitments put forward...

If I may say so, it would be a great relief to us all if the Minister could tell us when the competition reform Bill is going to be laid before Parliament. Can she give us a rough idea? Also, are the Government still committed to the commitments put forward...

The Prime Minister has been clear that he will honour the manifesto. It is simply a matter of parliamentary time. I do have any more detailed information to provide at this moment, but I am aware that the department is pressing to ensure that there is parliamentary time available; that...

The Prime Minister has been clear that he will honour the manifesto. It is simply a matter of parliamentary time. I do have any more detailed information to provide at this moment, but I am aware that the department is pressing to ensure that there is parliamentary time available; that...

Picking up on the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, can the Minister pass on this message through her officials: there will be deep frustration if, when such a Bill appears, it does not resolve what is known as the PACCAR problem, which she and her officials will...

Picking up on the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, can the Minister pass on this message through her officials: there will be deep frustration if, when such a Bill appears, it does not resolve what is known as the PACCAR problem, which she and her officials will...

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Carlile. I am aware of the issues that he mentions. Again, those are absolutely in the minds of both officials and Ministers; we are on it, if I can say that.

I will remark once again on the privilege I have felt in listening to...

I thank the noble Lord, Lord Carlile. I am aware of the issues that he mentions. Again, those are absolutely in the minds of both officials and Ministers; we are on it, if I can say that.

I will remark once again on the privilege I have felt in listening to...

My Lords, this has been only a short debate but one that was full of content and interesting—indeed, entertaining—contributions. I am most grateful to those noble Lords who have taken part for their support in discussing these issues. When we are not contemplating legislation, we rarely have an opportunity to...

My Lords, this has been only a short debate but one that was full of content and interesting—indeed, entertaining—contributions. I am most grateful to those noble Lords who have taken part for their support in discussing these issues. When we are not contemplating legislation, we rarely have an opportunity to...

They have responded.

They have responded.

Have they?

Have they?

Yes, yesterday.

Yes, yesterday.

Oh, the noble Lord is ahead of me. That is a very good basis on which we can bring these issues back.

Frankly, the European Union is in balk. The Commission has withdrawn its proposals, and the European Parliament is challenging that in the European court, so the EU cannot make...

Oh, the noble Lord is ahead of me. That is a very good basis on which we can bring these issues back.

Frankly, the European Union is in balk. The Commission has withdrawn its proposals, and the European Parliament is challenging that in the European court, so the EU cannot make...

I am sorry to ask the noble Lord to give way for a moment, but I need to make a correction for the record. The competition reform Bill was mentioned in the King’s Speech, not in the manifesto.

I am sorry to ask the noble Lord to give way for a moment, but I need to make a correction for the record. The competition reform Bill was mentioned in the King’s Speech, not in the manifesto.

I thank the Minister very much for that and thank all noble Lords who have taken part in this short debate. I hope we will have the opportunity in future to take forward some of these important issues.

I thank the Minister very much for that and thank all noble Lords who have taken part in this short debate. I hope we will have the opportunity in future to take forward some of these important issues.

Today, I am publishing the Government's response to the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) market study into the heating oil sector.

For the first time, families who rely on heating oil will benefit from stronger protections under Labour Government plans to regulate the sector for the first time. This Government...

Today, I am publishing the Government's response to the Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) market study into the heating oil sector.

For the first time, families who rely on heating oil will benefit from stronger protections under Labour Government plans to regulate the sector for the first time. This Government...