Clause 14 - Strategy for carrying out functions
Energy Bill [Lords]
11:00 am

Mr Norman Baker (Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Lewes, Liberal Democrat)

I beg to move amendment No. 150, in

clause 14, page 12, line 7, leave out 'from time to time' and insert

'at least every five years'.

Mr Norman Baker (Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Lewes, Liberal Democrat)

I can be brief on this amendment, which deals with the NDA's duty to prepare a strategy and with the time scale within which it should revise that strategy. The Bill says that it would be appropriate for the NDA to revise the strategy ''from time to time'', but I suggest that that would allow it to do so not very often or, indeed, not at all. Adding the words

''at least every five years''

would require the NDA to reconsider its work, and even if it did not want to revise its strategy, it would be required to do so. That is good for the management of the NDA.

Mr Stephen Timms (Minister of State (e-Commerce & Competitiveness), Department of Trade and Industry; East Ham, Labour)

I can be equally brief. Schedule 2 states in paragraph 3(1):

''The NDA must carry out and complete a review of its strategy before the end of each review period.''

In paragraph 3(9), it is specified that the review period is five years. The hon. Gentleman's point is fully met in schedule 2.

Mr Norman Baker (Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Lewes, Liberal Democrat)

I am delighted to have that reassurance, which meets my point entirely, and to notice that once again I am at one with the Government. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause 14 ordered to stand part of the Bill.