Clause 6 - Power to require information
Export Control Bill
4:30 pm
Mr Nigel Griffiths (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department of Trade and Industry; Edinburgh South, Labour)
As the hon. Gentleman knows, that was the subject of deliberation and comment by the Select Committee on Delegated Powers and Deregulation in the other place. The hon. Gentleman is correct in his observation that orders under clause 6 would be subject to affirmative resolution procedure and that that will no longer apply if clause 6 is removed. However, the new powers provided for under clause 7 are much narrower than those provided for under clause 6. The amendments to clause 7 simply make clear the powers already contained in clauses 1, 2, 4 and 5, to which the negative procedure applies. The majority of the alterations to record-keeping requirements are routine or derive from European regulations. The Government are therefore satisfied that the alterations to record-keeping requirements are not deserving of full affirmative parliamentary scrutiny. The hon. Gentleman is right, however, to point the matter out to the Committee and I am sure that we are all grateful to him for that.