My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Sajid Javid) has today made the following statement.

I wish to inform the House of a change regarding the future of the National Measurement and Regulation Office.

The National Measurement and Regulation Office has responsibility for simplifying technical...

My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Sajid Javid) has today made the following statement.

I wish to inform the House of a change regarding the future of the National Measurement and Regulation Office.

The National Measurement and Regulation Office has responsibility for simplifying technical...

I wish to inform the House of a change regarding the future of the National Measurement and Regulation Office.

The National Measurement and Regulation Office has responsibility for simplifying technical regulation for the benefit of British businesses through its legal metrology, hallmarking, technical services and enforcement activities.

The National Measurement...

I wish to inform the House of a change regarding the future of the National Measurement and Regulation Office.

The National Measurement and Regulation Office has responsibility for simplifying technical regulation for the benefit of British businesses through its legal metrology, hallmarking, technical services and enforcement activities.

The National Measurement...

Draft Local Better Regulation Office (Dissolution and Transfer of Functions, Etc.) Order 2012. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

Draft Local Better Regulation Office (Dissolution and Transfer of Functions, Etc.) Order 2012. Lords debate on a motion to consider. Agreed to on question. grand Committee held in the Moses Room.

My Lords, I support my noble friend on her proposals regarding this order. Whereas I sympathise with the remarks of the noble Lord, Lord Borrie, that this is government fashion, behind that fashion lies a fundamental democratic principle. There are a lot of us who believe that one of the...

My Lords, I support my noble friend on her proposals regarding this order. Whereas I sympathise with the remarks of the noble Lord, Lord Borrie, that this is government fashion, behind that fashion lies a fundamental democratic principle. There are a lot of us who believe that one of the...

We are perfectly happy for you to buy us a drink.

We are perfectly happy for you to buy us a drink.

That the Grand Committee do report to the House that is has considered the Local Better Regulation Office (Dissolution and Transfer of Functions, Etc.) Order 2012. Relevant document: 36th report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments.

That the Grand Committee do report to the House that is has considered the Local Better Regulation Office (Dissolution and Transfer of Functions, Etc.) Order 2012. Relevant document: 36th report from the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments.

My Lords, there are two main purposes of this order: to dissolve the Local Better Regulation Office and to transfer its continuing functions to the Secretary of State and Welsh Ministers. The legislation that is amended by this order comprises: the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008; the Parliamentary Commissioner...

My Lords, there are two main purposes of this order: to dissolve the Local Better Regulation Office and to transfer its continuing functions to the Secretary of State and Welsh Ministers. The legislation that is amended by this order comprises: the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008; the Parliamentary Commissioner...

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive statement. In the beginning she said that there would be greater transparency and accountability. I noticed the assertion but I am not sure that I necessarily saw the evidence of that. This is an interesting NDPB and the impact assessment or the review...

I thank the Minister for her comprehensive statement. In the beginning she said that there would be greater transparency and accountability. I noticed the assertion but I am not sure that I necessarily saw the evidence of that. This is an interesting NDPB and the impact assessment or the review...

My Lords, the power to direct local authorities to comply with guidance is repealed; the power to enforce the primary authority remains. That is what I thought that I had made clear in the first place. Motion agreed.

My Lords, the power to direct local authorities to comply with guidance is repealed; the power to enforce the primary authority remains. That is what I thought that I had made clear in the first place. Motion agreed.

Perhaps the Minister could specifically explain, when she writes, how what she said relates to paragraph 8.5 of the Explanatory Memorandum, which seems to suggest that, "““the power to direct local authorities, and … to enforce service improvement will be stopped””." It does not seem to reflect that, but that...

Perhaps the Minister could specifically explain, when she writes, how what she said relates to paragraph 8.5 of the Explanatory Memorandum, which seems to suggest that, "““the power to direct local authorities, and … to enforce service improvement will be stopped””." It does not seem to reflect that, but that...

The powers of enforcement are in Part 2 of the Act, and they remain. In the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008, Section 7 is repealed, if I have that right. If that is not clear—

The powers of enforcement are in Part 2 of the Act, and they remain. In the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008, Section 7 is repealed, if I have that right. If that is not clear—

Perhaps I can try to be helpful, because I do not want us to take up more time than we need to, but that is not quite what it says in the Explanatory Memorandum. I notice that the Minister’s officials are nodding. Perhaps the best thing that the Minister could...

Perhaps I can try to be helpful, because I do not want us to take up more time than we need to, but that is not quite what it says in the Explanatory Memorandum. I notice that the Minister’s officials are nodding. Perhaps the best thing that the Minister could...

I thought that the answer I gave was that the power to direct remains in cases of primary authority and it is other guidance where the power to enforce will be removed. I shall see whether I can get a clearer response for the noble Lord.

I thought that the answer I gave was that the power to direct remains in cases of primary authority and it is other guidance where the power to enforce will be removed. I shall see whether I can get a clearer response for the noble Lord.

In that case, I think the Minister needs to clarify the memorandum.

In that case, I think the Minister needs to clarify the memorandum.

I am trying very hard to make sure that I can answer as many questions as possible. It does not seem that long ago that I was standing in this Room—perhaps it was a couple of years ago—at the birth of the LBRO. At that time, I wondered whether we...

I am trying very hard to make sure that I can answer as many questions as possible. It does not seem that long ago that I was standing in this Room—perhaps it was a couple of years ago—at the birth of the LBRO. At that time, I wondered whether we...

I may have misheard the Minister when she said that the power to direct local authorities will remain. That is what I thought I heard, but I would like some clarification, because the Explanatory Memorandum is quite clear that the power to direct local authorities goes and the power to...

I may have misheard the Minister when she said that the power to direct local authorities will remain. That is what I thought I heard, but I would like some clarification, because the Explanatory Memorandum is quite clear that the power to direct local authorities goes and the power to...

My Lords, I wonder whether I might intervene at this point. I am very disappointed with the order and its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum. It is very useful to have the Explanatory Memorandum, but an examination of it reveals—as my noble friend Lord Young has shown—that it makes a number of...

My Lords, I wonder whether I might intervene at this point. I am very disappointed with the order and its accompanying Explanatory Memorandum. It is very useful to have the Explanatory Memorandum, but an examination of it reveals—as my noble friend Lord Young has shown—that it makes a number of...

My Lords, I am always reluctant to say that I will write because it sounds like a cop-out. I always try if I can to get the answer on the day, but I am obviously not giving as clear a response as is required by your Lordships. I will, of...

My Lords, I am always reluctant to say that I will write because it sounds like a cop-out. I always try if I can to get the answer on the day, but I am obviously not giving as clear a response as is required by your Lordships. I will, of...