Clause 27 - Public interest interventions in markets investigations

Part of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:45 pm on 10 July 2012.

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Photo of Chi Onwurah Chi Onwurah Shadow Minister (Business, Innovation and Skills) 4:45, 10 July 2012

I thank the Minister for his further clarification. I am reassured that he does not think that the clause will result in a change in accountability or a movement of responsibility for the public interest away from the Government. However, I do not agree with his assessment of the effect of the clause. Although the decision-making power remains with the Secretary of State, if the responsibility for assessing the public interest case of markets, which as I have said are different from mergers, is to rest with the Competition and Markets Authority we should put the issue and principle of public interest to the Committee in a vote.