Clause 2 - Electronic access to information
Social Security Fraud Bill
12:45 pm
Mr Peter Atkinson (Hexham, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 23, in page 5, line 4, leave out
`or is capable of being provided'.
We should be able to deal with the amendment speedily. When the matter was discussed in the other place, considerable concern was expressed that companies could be made to set up complicated and expensive electronic systems to deal with the matters. The noble Baroness Hollis stated that she was happy
``to put on the record . . . that the Secretary of State will not require any business to provide electronic access to its records unless it is already doing so, or plans to do so for another organisation.''—[Official Report, House of Lords, 6 February 2001; Vol. 621, c. 1053.]
That was reassuring. Her comments referred to the House of Lords code of conduct, but I understand that there may be a similar assurance in the House of Commons code of conduct. Given that those comments are so reassuring, why must such draconian powers be put in the Bill?