Previously called Standing Committees, Public Bill Commitees study proposed legislation (Bills) in detail, debating each clause and reporting any amendments to the Commons for further debate.
There are at least 16 MPs on a Committee, and the proportion of parties reflects the House of Commons, so the government always has a majority.
[Mr. Derek Conway in the Chair]
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 1, in page 182, line 6, at end insert 'of which at least 50 per cent. will be currently active in industry or commerce at the time of their appointment'. I hope that...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 3, in page 2, line 24, at end insert— '(c) a detailed summary of OFT decisions and investigations over the preceding year'.
[Mr. Nigel Beard in the Chair]
Amendment proposed [this day]: No. 3, in page 2, line 24, at end insert– '(c) a detailed summary of OFT decisions and investigations over the preceding year'.–[Mr. Waterson.]...
Amendment made: No. 11, in page 3, line 20, leave out 'in its opinion'.–[Mr. Waterson.] Question proposed, That the clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 13, in page 3, line 23, after '(1)', insert: 'Subject to the overriding requirement to keep sensitive business information confidential,'. We move to another clause,...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 17, in page 5, line 3, leave out ''feature, or combination of features, of'' and insert ''agreements between undertakings, decisions by associations of undertakings,...
[Mr. Nigel Beard in the Chair]
I beg to move amendment No. 19, in page 5, line 6, leave out '90' and insert '60'.
[Mr. Derek Conway in the Chair]
Amendment proposed [this day]: No. 23, in page 5, line 20, at end insert— '(6A) The status of ''designated consumer body'' for the purposes of this section shall be renewed by the...
I beg to move amendment No. 122, in page 142, line 41, at end insert— '(1A) The Secretary of State may by order provide that section 11 is to apply to complaints made by a designated...
I beg to move amendment No. 31, in page 8, line 3, at end insert— '(3A) The Tribunal shall also have the power to grant injunctive relief.'. I would be interested to know why we are not...
I beg to move amendment No. 70, page 8, line 33, after 'specified', insert 'consumer'. We have been pretty good so far at avoiding unnecessary stand part debates and I am sure that we will...
I beg to move amendment No. 60, in page 9, leave out line 33.
I beg to move amendment No. 77, in page 130, line 28, leave out 'dishonestly' and insert 'knowingly or recklessly'. There is a substantial break in the proceedings, as we jump forward in the...
[Derek Conway in the Chair]
Amendment moved [18 April]: No. 88, in page 131, line 20, at end insert: '(9) This section shall not enter into force until three years after the entry into force of the European Commission's...
Cartel offence: penalty and prosecution
[Mr. Nigel Beard in the Chair]
I beg to move amendment No. 92, in page 132, leave out lines 31 and 32. This is a fairly short point but it fairly puzzling to say the least. Clause 179 contains the main offence, the so-called...
I beg to move amendment No. 94, in page 132, line 41, at end insert— ''insofar as relevant to the investigation of the offence under section 179 which it is suspected has been committed''....
I beg to move amendment No. 96, in page 133, line 2, leave out 'or any other person who it has reason to believe has relevant information', and insert— 'past and present employees of the...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Clause 187Privileged information etc.
I beg to move amendment No. 107, in page 134, leave out line 43. I should like to say a few words on the clause and proposed amendment. Several hon. Members have a legal background and take...
I beg to move amendment No. 109, in page 135, line 22, leave out from '2002' to end of line 26. It will be obvious from the wording of the amendment that my comments will be short. Clause 189...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 115, in page 139, line 13, leave out from 'infringes' to end of line 23 and insert 'an offence under section 179 of the Enterprise Act 2002'. The law currently...
[Derek Conway in the Chair]
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 46, in page 145, line 32, after '(2)', insert— 'or is an unfair commercial practice'.
[Mr. Nigel Beard in the Chair]
I beg to move amendment No. 63, in page 10, line 30, leave out 'shall' and insert 'may at its discretion'.
[Nigel Beard in the Chair]
Amendment proposed [this day]: No. 211, in clause 20, page 10, line 33, leave out from 'result' to end of line 35 and insert– 'in the creation or strengthening of a dominant position, as a...
[Mr. Conway in the Chair]
Question proposed [25 April], That the clause, as amended, stand part of the Bill. Question again proposed.
I beg to move amendment No. 215, in page 11, line 46, leave out '45' and insert '70'. The concept of a de minimis threshold is, of course, vital to the process of the competition regime to avoid...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Amendment made: No. 177, in page 19, line 27, after ''outweigh'' insert— 'the substantial lessening of competition concerned and'.—[Miss Melanie Johnson.]
I beg to move amendment No. 229, in page 22, line 38, at end insert— '(2A) In making or preparing any report under this section, the Commission shall not disclose any information of a...
I beg to move amendment No. 230, in page 23, line 14, at end insert— 'such extension of time only to be granted with the consent of the parties.'.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 66, in page 26, line 7, leave out from ''56'' to end of line 8. The amendment is quite important and it raises two issues. One is of principle and the other of...
Amendment made: No. 178, in page 28, line 43, after ''outweigh'', insert ''the substantial lessening of competition and''.—[Miss Melanie Johnson.] Clause 42, as amended, ordered to stand...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 263, in page 30, line 33, leave out ''that section'' and insert ''section 43''. I commend the amendment to the Committee. It seeks to clarify that the Competition...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 260, in page 40, line 10, leave out ''special''. This probing amendment raises a narrow point. The clause is a discrete little regime for dealing with mergers that...
I beg to move amendment No. 264, in page 46, line 16, after 'assets' insert— 'to which section 58(1) of the Fair Trading Act 1973 (c.41) applies'.
I beg to move amendment No. 273, in page 49, line 41, after `created', insert— `(aa) the provisions of section 20(1)(b) have been satisfied;'. There is an echo of our previous debates on...
I beg to move amendment No. 181, in page 51, line 12, after `notified', insert `(whether in writing or otherwise)'.
I beg to move amendment No. 276, in page 51, line 37, after `7', insert `and essential to avoid the creation or strengthening of a dominant position'. Having said all that, the effect of the...
Question proposed,That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 182, in page 55, line 1, leave out `(8)' and insert `(1)'.
I beg to move amendment No. 266, in page 56, line 20, after `section' insert— `; and references to the acceptance or giving of undertakings under this section shall be construed accordingly'.
Amendment made: No. 267, in page 57, line 16, after `section' insert— `; and references to the making of orders under this section shall be construed accordingly'.—[Mr. Alexander.]
I beg to move amendment No. 67, in page 57, line 30, after `undertakings', insert— `, but no such undertaking may be accepted from persons other than one who is a party or is a member of...
I beg to move amendment No. 187, in page 58, line 7, after "Commission" insert "or the OFT".
I beg to move amendment No. 261, in page 58, line 29, leave out subsection (2) and insert— `(2) The Commission may make such order as it considers to be reasonable and practicable (i) to...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Amendments made: No. 268, in page 196, line 33, after `paragraph' insert— `; and references to the acceptance or giving of undertakings under this paragraph shall be construed...
I beg to move amendment No. 191, in page 209, line 7, after `proceedings;' insert— `(ja) the approval by the relevant authority or another person of anything required by virtue of the order...
I beg to move amendment No. 278, in page 63, line 34, leave out subsections (3) and (4).
I beg to move amendment No. 286, in page 66, line 20, after `undertakings', insert— `or that he agrees to give undertakings in terms which he specifies in his notice'.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
This is a short clause, but it contains some significant powers for the Secretary of State. In three lines, the clause makes it clear that the Secretary of State can modify by order any of the...
I beg to move amendment No. 200, in page 70, line 20, leave out `so far as practicable'.
I beg to move amendment No. 288, in page 74, line 7, at end insert— `(4A) In performing any function pursuant to subsections (1), (2) or (3) to publish the result of any action taken by...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 290, in page 77, line 35, leave out `and' and insert `or'. I do not want to have a stand part debate on the clause, but I shall speak generally about this...
Question proposed,That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 172, in page 81, line 5, leave out "person" and insert "party to a merger". I had intended to say that the arguments for the amendment could be put in a short...
[Mr. Derek Conway in the Chair]
Amendment moved [this day]: No. 172, in page 81, line 5, leave out 'person' and insert 'party to a merger'.—[Mr. Carmichael.]
I beg to move amendment No. 296, in page 83, line 7, at end insert— '(6A) Any order made by the Secretary of State which increases the level of fees payable shall require the approval by...
I beg to move amendment No. 297, in page 84, line 3, leave out ''or to be attributable to any neglect on the part of''. The provision on offences by bodies corporate seems to mirror section 132...
I beg to move amendment No. 298, in page 90, line 9, leave out 'suspecting', and insert 'believing'.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 302, in page 91, line 35, after 'services', insert 'significantly'.
[Mr. Derek Conway in the Chair]
Amendment proposed [1 May]: No. 306, in page 92, line 44, after `services', insert— `(iii) improvements to production or distribution; or (iv) promoting technical or economic...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
The amendment seeks to reduce the period set out in clause 129. Opposition Members accept the value of certainty to which the Under-Secretary referred a few moments ago; there should be some...
`(7) In the event that the Commission decides that no remedial action needs to be taken following a market investigation, it shall reimburse the costs and legal expenses of the undertaking which...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
This is a short point. Subsection (1) states: "Where an intervention notice ... comes into force in relation to a market investigation reference, sections 126 and 128 to 130 shall cease to apply...
Variety is the spice of life. I shall not divert the Committee long on the amendment, which is narrow but significant and raises interesting and important issues. The amendment would make sport...
I beg to move amendment No. 311, in page 108, line 1, leave out `or needs to be varied or superseded'. "false or misleading in a material respect". The whole basis of accepting that...
With this it will be convenient to discuss amendment No. 313, in page 108, line 34, after `reference', insert `but not any such action which could be beneficial to competition or customers'. ...
Amendment made:No. 194, in page 110, line 5, after `authority' insert `or the OFT'.—[Miss Melanie Johnson.] Clause 152, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill. Clauses 153 to 158...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 370, in page 115, line 4, at end insert— "(ca) modifying networking arrangements (within the meaning given by section 39(1) of the Broadcasting Act 1990 (c.42));".
`(as the case may be)'. This is a drafting amendment to ensure consistency with other sectoral legislation. I ask the Committee to support it. Amendment agreed to. Amendment made, No. 375,...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed,That the clause stand part of the Bill.
[Mr. Nigel Beard in the Chair]
Question proposed [this day], That the clause stand part of the Bill. Question again proposed. Question put and agreed to. Clause 163 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 316, in clause 164, page 120, line 5, at end insert 'but should be published as soon after such action or decision as is reasonably practicable.'. Welcome back to our...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 158, in page 122, line 19, leave out paragraph (c).
I beg to move amendment No. 325, in page 122, line 37, leave out 'not'. This is a probing amendment, which I hope that the Minister can deal with swiftly. Subsection (2)(a) deals with...
I beg to move amendment No. 327, in page 123, line 24, leave out 'and 117 (offences by bodies corporate)'. The CBI brought this relatively small issue to our attention. Clause 170 deals with...
I beg to move amendment No. 328, in page 124, line 31, at end insert 'and includes a local authority or a public body.'.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move Government amendment No. 341, in page 128, line 9, leave out 'the Competition Commission and'.
Amendment made: No. 345, in page 228, line 27, leave out paragraph 1 and insert— '1 (1) The Service shall consist of— (a) the President of the Competition Appeal Tribunal; (b)...
I beg to move amendment No. 335, in page 128, line 28, leave out ''so far as practicable''.
Amendment made: No. 355, in page 128, line 34, leave out subsection (1).—[Miss Johnson.] Clause 177, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.Schedule 11The Competition Commission
Amendments made: No. 356, in page 232, leave out lines 10 to 12. No. 357, in page 232, line 24, leave out from 'Commission''' to end of line 27. No. 358, in page 232, line 34, leave out paragraph...
I beg to move amendment No. 196, in page 234, line 22, after 'group' insert '— (a)'.
I beg to move amendment No. 28, in page 6, line 5, leave out 'Secretary of State' and insert 'Lord Chancellor'.
I beg to move amendment No. 48, in page 184, line 29, leave out 'or any other relevant law and practice' and insert 'or commercial competition economics or business experience'. I am happy to...
Amendments made: No. 386, in page 236, line 31, at end insert: 'Chapter 3 of Part 10 and Chapter 2 of Part 18 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (c.8).' No. 387, in page 236, line...
Amendments made: No. 381, in page 163, line 35, leave out 'and'. No. 382, in page 163, line 35, at end insert: 'and such subordinate legislation as is specified by order for the purposes of...
Amendment made: No. 384, in page 164, line 3, leave out from 'any' to end of line and insert: 'specified information (within the meaning of section 228(1))'. —[Miss Melanie Johnson.]...
Amendment made: No. 385, in page 165, line 11, leave out 'section 55' and insert 'sections 55 and 56'.—[Miss Melanie Johnson.] Clause 238, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
[Mr. Derek Conway in the Chair]
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 485, in page 239, line 18, after first ''office'', insert ''(by reason of resignation, death or otherwise)''.
[Mr. Nigel Beard in the Chair]
Amendment proposed [this day]: No. 416, in page 252, line 33, leave out '28 days' and insert 'three months'.—[Mr. Waterson] Question again proposed, That the amendment be made.
I beg to move amendment No. 565, in page 272, line 6, at end insert— 'Companies Act 1985 (c. 6) 1A The Companies Act 1985 shall be amended as follows 1B In section 225 (alteration of...
I beg to move amendment No. 581, in page 166, line 40, after first 'of', insert 'a receiver who on appointment would be'. This is a technical amendment to correct a reference to a floating...
Amendments made: No. 507, in page 280, line 28, leave out 'raising finance as part of' and insert 'implementing'. No. 508, in page 281, line 42, after 'to' insert— '(a)' No. 509, in...
I beg to move amendment No. 437, in page 170, line 5, after 'production)'' ', insert 'and immediately after those words there shall be inserted ''after deducting any amounts paid or payable by...
[Mr. Derek Conway in the Chair]
Question proposed [9 May], That the clause stand part of the Bill. Question again proposed.
I beg to move amendment No. 524, in page 170, line 16, at end insert 'appointed under such floating charge'.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 455, in page 171, leave out line 33 and insert— '(a) in the case of an individual whose bankruptcy arises from the closure of a business or trade established or...
Amendments made: No. 510, in page 285, line 6, leave out '4(a)' and insert '4(1)(a)'. No. 511, in page 285, line 9, leave out sub-paragraph (2) and insert— '(2) If the income payments...
[Mr. Nigel Beard in the Chair]
I beg to move amendment No. 431, in page 286, line 13, after 'knew', insert 'or ought to have known'.
I beg to move amendment No. 432, in page 172, leave out lines 37 and 38. The amendment is, in effect, sponsored by the CBI and the Consumer Credit Association, which makes me wonder whether it...
I beg to move amendment No. 555, in page 173, line 17, leave out 'before the discharge of the bankrupt' and insert 'within twelve months of the bankruptcy order'.
I beg to move amendment No. 556, in page 173, line 36, leave out 'or'.
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 451, in page 291, line 21, leave out 'a bankruptcy debt' and insert 'a debt which is a bankruptcy debt or would be a bankruptcy debt if a bankruptcy order were made in...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Amendments made: No. 482, in page 176, line 6, at end insert— '(2) In this section ''enactment'' includes a provision made by or under— (a) an Act of the Scottish Parliament, or (b)...
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
Amendment made: No. 483, in page 177, line 16, at end insert ''or body''.—[Miss Johnson.]
Amendment made: No. 564, in page 178, line 28, leave out 'refuse or cancel' and insert 'disregard an application or withdraw'.—[Miss Johnson.]
[Mr. Derek Conway in the Chair]
Question proposed, That the clause stand part of the Bill.
I beg to move amendment No. 143, in page 180, line 34, at end insert— '(1A) But no order made under subsection (1) may amend or alter or in any way affect Part 6'. This debate echoes one...
Amendment made: No. 362, in page 298, line 20, at end insert— 'Superannuation Act 1972 (c.11) 2A (1) The Superannuation Act 1972 is amended as follows (2) In Schedule 1 (kinds of...
Amendments made: No. 607,in page 327, leave out line 7 and insert— 'In section 30, subsection (3) and, in subsection (5), the words '', subsection (3)''.'. No. 608, in page 327,...
I beg to move amendment No. 45, in page 181, line 9, at end add— '(2) Parts 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of this Act shall not come into force before 1st March 2005'. It is relatively rare, I...
'(1) This section has effect for the purpose of references in this Part to a person supplying or seeking to supply goods under— (a) a hire-purchase agreement; (b) a credit-sale...
'After paragraph 12 of Schedule 7 to the 1998 Act (the Competition Commission) there is inserted— ''Annual reports 12A (1) The Commission shall make to the Secretary of State a report...
'(1) The Secretary of State may by order provide for a provision of the Insolvency Act 1986 (c.45) to apply (with or without modification) in relation to a company incorporated outside Great...
'(1) Subsection (2) applies where, on a reference to the Commission under this Part, a member of a group constituted in connection with the reference in pursuance of paragraph 15 of Schedule 7...
'(1) Subsection (2) applies where, on a market investigation reference, a member of a group constituted in connection with the reference in pursuance of paragraph 15 of Schedule 7 to the...
'(1) The OFT will consider whether any fines which it imposes under Chapter I or Chapter II of the 1998 Act might be applied for any purpose or purposes which would contribute towards remedying...
'Where the court determines that the person named in the application is not engaged in conduct which constitutes an infringement and that therefore the application brought under section 206 has...
'The following shall be inserted into the Insolvency Act 1986 after section 306— ''306A Vesting: The Family Home Notwithstanding section 306(2), the 'family home' shall vest in the...
'.—(1) The Treasury may with the concurrence of the Secretary of State by order provide for a company arrangement or administration provision to apply (with or without modification) in...
Amendments made: No. 368, in line 1 of the long title, leave out 'and the Competition Appeal Tribunal' and insert 'the Competition Appeal Tribunal and the Competition Service'. No. 369, in...
Committee membership and attendance (out of 19)
Chairpersons
Members
[ Committee memberships can change partway through ]
