Clause 51 - Financial penalties
Water Bill [Lords]
11:00 am
Mr Elliot Morley (Minister of State (Environment and Agri-Environment), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; Scunthorpe, Labour)
I take it that the hon. Gentleman thinks that the penalties should be unreasonable, which does not seem very user-friendly in relation to business. The amount that is reasonable in the circumstances of the case is spelt out very clearly in the Bill. We would expect the authority to follow such principles of natural justice, but it is important to provide in the Bill a safeguard for the company. That would ensure that a failure by the regulator to apply the provision would be grounds for appeal under new section 22E. We return to the question of balance. Consumers have rights, as do companies, and we are trying to reflect both. That is the principle behind the clause.