Michael Weir (Spokesperson (Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform; Energy; Work and Pensions); Angus, Scottish National Party)

I beg to move amendment No. 95, in clause 50, page 41, line 45, at end add—

‘(7) The Secretary of State must consult with all organisations with a relevant material interest prior to making regulations under this Act.’.

This is basically a probing amendment. I recognise that it is not perfect, not least because it does not define  “a relevant material interest”. I am sure that the Minister would have made that point, so I got there first.

One of the problems with the CSA has always been the amount of regulation, and their difficulty and complexity. The many organisations throughout all the jurisdictions in the UK have now built up a great deal of expertise in dealing with those regulations and the problems that have arisen under them.

In drawing up regulations for CMEC under the new Act, it would be valuable to consult such organisations so that we might avoid some of the pitfalls that bedevilled the CSA. I am not suggesting that the consultation continue for ever, and I appreciate that we must come to a decision and introduce regulations, but I want to tease out from the Minister what consultation is being undertaken and who is being consulted. I also want him to understand that it is useful to consult those who have worked at the coal face over many years.

James Plaskitt (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Work and Pensions; Warwick & Leamington, Labour)

I thank the hon. Gentleman for moving his amendment. Let me say, however, that this has been one of the most consulted-on Bills of recent years. I accept what he says about the need to consult. He asked who has been consulted. Before the Bill went through pre-legislative scrutiny in the Select Committee on Work and Pensions, a list was published of all the organisations that the Department had engaged in the consultation process, and, before that, those consulted by David Henshaw’s inquiry, which also consulted extensively.

Given the Bill’s history and the route that we have taken to reach the proposals before us, I think that I can reassure the hon. Gentleman that there has been extensive consultation, and that consultation is by no means finished. It will not be endless and for ever, as he rightly said, but as CMEC comes into being and takes its early decisions, it will still consult major stakeholders, such as One Parent Families, Families Need Fathers, Resolution and the Child Poverty Action Group. Many other organisations have, however, been heavily engaged with us in the consultation process.

The hon. Gentleman is therefore right to stress the importance of consultation. I can assure him not only that there has been a lot of it, but that it is ongoing. However, there is no case for including a requirement to consult in the Bill, and I hope that he will agree to withdraw the amendment.

Michael Weir (Spokesperson (Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform; Energy; Work and Pensions); Angus, Scottish National Party)

My point related to ongoing consultations about the regulations, rather than the Bill itself, but I recognise what the Minister says and I do not wish to push the matter to a vote. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.