Clause 17 - Annual reports
Energy Bill [Lords]
2:45 pm
Mr Stephen Timms (Minister of State (e-Commerce & Competitiveness), Department of Trade and Industry; East Ham, Labour)
If the NDA's report contains anything relating to its responsibilities as set out in clauses 9(2) or 9(3), which deal with the handling of devolved matters, the NDA must send a copy to Scottish Ministers as well as to the Secretary of State. Scottish Ministers must then lay the report before the Scottish Parliament. If the report does not contain anything relating to what is set out in subsections (2) or (3), that requirement does not apply. The effect of clause 9 on Scottish sites, such as Dounreay, is that they would
have to be cleared of all hazardous materials stored on the site. Scottish Ministers would not automatically receive a copy only if clean-up was virtually complete, therefore it would not have to be laid before the Scottish Parliament.
Documents are laid before Parliament or the Scottish Parliament only when they have a clear interest in them. The amendment would mean that every NDA report would have to be laid before the Scottish Parliament by Scottish Ministers regardless of whether they have an interest in it. That would be unnecessary. If Scottish Ministers were not formally sent a copy of the report by the NDA, they would still be able to see copies of it. However, the requirement to lay the report applies only if there is a Scottish interest.