Clause 5 - Alteration of allocations under section 4
Waste and Emissions Trading Bill [Lords]
4:00 pm
Mr Norman Baker (Lewes, Liberal Democrat)
I shall be brief. I ask the Minister to reflect on subsection (1) and to say why the Government believe that the allocating authority that has the power to make an allocation under subsection (4) should have the power at any time to alter the allocation. The proposal seems to give a draconian power to take such decisions, which will have a knock-on effect on disposal authorities and others. We want to have time to plan for and to accommodate such a measure. That is not in any way to resist the right of
the allocating authority to alter the allocation, but merely to say that there should be some planning. The amendment provides that if such an alteration were to be made, there should be an agreement or a consultation process so that the disposal authority has the opportunity to explain the implications to the allocating authority, and to ensure that such knowledge is taken into account in taking what may be a far-reaching, forward decision.