Clause 2
Sale of Student Loans Bill
4:45 pm
John Hayes (Shadow Minister, Innovation, Universities and Skills; South Holland and The Deepings, Conservative)
I hope that this debate will be rather shorter than our first one. However, it was important—I am grateful for your indulgence, Miss Begg—to deal with fundamental issues respecting the new power at the beginning of our consideration.
My question about clause 2 is straightforward. The clause will grant the Secretary of State flexibility in sales contracts that he thinks are appropriate, in addition to those specifically expressed elsewhere in the Bill. The explanatory notes to clause 2 state:
“The Government intends to require purchasers to use HMRC and the SLC as part of the sales contract.”
If that is the case, why is it not in the Bill? Why are Ministers given flexibility in that regard?