Clause 13 - Powers for carrying out functions
Energy Bill [Lords]
10:30 am
Mr Laurence Robertson (Shadow Minister, Economic Affairs; Tewkesbury, Conservative)
These amendments relate to the powers of the NDA, but in particular the opportunity that it has to change those powers. I regret that my hon. Friend the Member for South-West Hertfordshire is not here, because these are what he would call probing amendments. Therefore, I will not take too much time over them. I would like the Minister to explain why the NDA might want to exercise or change its powers. I am slightly alarmed by subsection (1), which states:
''The NDA shall have power, for the purpose of carrying out its functions, to do all such things as appear to it to be likely to facilitate the carrying out of its functions, or to be incidental to carrying them out.''
That seems a little wide, so I seek to amend it. I also seek to require the NDA to present to Parliament its reasons for changing its powers. I hope the Minister can reassure us on this issue.