Schedule 2 - Procedural requirements applicable to NDA's Strategy
Energy Bill [Lords]
11:00 am
Mr Laurence Robertson (Shadow Minister, Economic Affairs; Tewkesbury, Conservative)
I beg to move amendment No. 65, in
schedule 2, page 158, line 6, after 'State', insert
'and such strategy has been laid before each House of Parliament'.
In earlier sittings, we have discussed the principle of laying certain matters before Parliament. That is what the amendment would require the Secretary of State to do. The schedule refers to the NDA's strategy for carrying out its functions. The strategy already has to go to the Secretary of State, so it is obviously recognised as a serious matter.
The strategy is an important part of the Bill and will be an important part of the NDA. The schedule is quite long; I will not go through it all but it covers issues such as the skilled work force, effective competition for contracts, good practice and activities that benefit the social or economic life of communities. It goes on to talk about the NDA's objectives for decommissioning and cleaning up and the means by which it intends to achieve those objectives. It also states that the NDA needs to make a statement of the condition to which the site needs to be restored.
The strategy contains a good deal, and it seemed sensible to lay it before each House of Parliament as well as producing it to the Secretary of State.