Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.

It would be helpful to have some sense of the Minister’s envisaged time scale for the statutory instrument coming before the House to set up the key administrative parts of the Bill referred to in clause 16. It would be helpful to know the answer to that simple question.

Allow me just to say a few words about the clause. It provides that any regulations and orders under the Bill are to be made by statutory instrument. All statutory instruments are to be agreed under the draft affirmative procedure in the House of Commons. The requirement that a draft of the instrument has to  be laid and approved by resolution in the House of Commons will ensure that regulations and orders receive proper scrutiny. The only exception to that procedure is for transitional provisions made in connection with the coming into force of any of the Bill’s provisions.

During the debate on clause 11, I explained that we have published the draft regulations to be made under the Bill for consultation, and they will be subject to the affirmative procedure. The draft regulations were published in the second week of September, if I remember correctly. Regulations will be made as soon as possible after Royal Assent has been given to the Bill so that the scheme can start as planned in April 2013.

Question put and agreed to.

Clause 16 accordingly ordered to stand part of the Bill.