Clause 22 - Functions to which sections 19 and 22 apply
Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill
10:00 am
Oliver Heald (Shadow Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs & Shadow Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Assisted By Shadow Solicitor General), Constitutional Affairs; North East Hertfordshire, Conservative)
I was going to ask why the “Ofs” have been let off. Perhaps I might also ask the Minister why it is necessary to specify the functions in this way. Clause 23 defines regulatory functions; why is it not the case that anyone who exercises one of them is caught under clauses 19 and 20? What is the point of the Minister interfering to say who is specified as a regulator in this way? Why not just say that all regulators are covered?
The overall scheme of the provisions introduces absolutely classic, sensible and proportionate principles on which regulators are supposed to act, so why does the Minister need to say which regulatory functions they apply to? Why can the provisions not apply to all of them? Is there a point that we are missing here? The big boys of the “Ofs”, such as the Gas and Electricity Markets Authority, Ofcom, and Ofrail—what is it called? [Laughter.] Something like that. The Postal Services Commission is known as something; I do not think it is Ofpost. I know that the Water Services Regulation Authority is popularly known and not loved as Ofwat. Why are the “Ofs” being let off?