Clause 3 - Preconditions
Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill
3:45 pm
Mark Harper (Shadow Minister, Defence; Forest of Dean, Conservative)
I pick up on that last point in a spirit of co-operation. The Minister is right that it is a matter of political will; the powers in the Bill can help reinforce the desire of Ministers to drive regulation downwards if the Bill can be used only for that. If that is the intention, the Bill will help Ministers in a Government committed to reduce the regulatory burden to carry it through. It will also help them in their battles with civil servants, as they explain to them that the Bill can be used only for certain things. There is some merit in what my hon. Friend the Member for North-East Hertfordshire says. I hope that the Minister considers it constructively.
The Minister gave a commitment to bring forward Government amendments on Report to include a veto in the Bill for Committee of both Houses of Parliament. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.