Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee at 12:15 pm on 17 June 2008.
Pat McFadden
Minister of State (Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform) (Employment Relations and Postal Affairs), Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee
I do not want to detain the Committee, but I do not think that the review makes Clause 17 a Sunset clause, as the hon. Member for Solihull said. Perhaps clause 18 comes closer to being a sunset clause, although it is not one in the normal understanding of the term.
The clause provides the power to dissolve LBRO. It will be an organisation with ambitious objectives, but it is possible that a day will come when its work has been achieved. As another matter of prudence in such legislation, the clause makes provision for the dissolution of LBRO by way of an order subject to the affirmative resolution procedure. That order could also make provision for the transfer of property rights, liabilities and so on to another person.
I do not want to draw attention to the end of LBRO while we are debating its establishment, but in legislation of this kind it seems prudent to include a provision that allows for the power to wind it up at some point in the future should the Government judge it necessary.
Mark Prisk
Shadow Minister (Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform)
I do welcome the provision being put in the Bill, not because there is necessarily an ulterior motive but because it is important that all eventualities are incorporated. Whether this is a Sunset clause, a late afternoon Clause or a dusky clause, whatever description one might want to give it, it provides an important power and I welcome it.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
A sunset clause is a provision of a law which causes the law to (in effect) repeal itself automatically. They are typically used as a form of concession when debating controversial proposals.
