Clause 19 - Duties to operate installations and provide treatment etc.
Energy Bill [Lords]
3:00 pm
Mr Norman Baker (Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; Lewes, Liberal Democrat)
It is a rather false premise to say that the amendment cuts across the regulator. The regulator has duties that are set out in statute and those duties are not changed in any way by this amendment, nor were they in the earlier instance that the Minister referred to. The regulator will have a right to expect the NDA to ensure that there is a minimal adverse impact on the environment, and I am merely proposing to write into the Bill what the regulator would require of the NDA in any case. The amendment does not cut across the regulator's message to the NDA; it reinforces it. It would not be cutting across the regulator to write in good practice. We would expect the NDA to ensure that there is a minimal adverse impact on the environment. However, the Minister has given me his views and I have given the Committee mine.
The Minister mentioned a memorandum of understanding. I am glad that that is being constructed I hope that he recognises that it is an important document that should be available more widely. When it is ready, will he place a copy in the Library of the House?
I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Clause 19 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
Clauses 20 and 21 ordered to stand part of the Bill.