Part of Enterprise Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 6:15 pm ar 23 Ebrill 2002.
Mark Field
Ceidwadwyr, Cities of London and Westminster
6:15,
23 Ebrill 2002
On balance, I will withdraw the Amendment, but a concern has been highlighted. I am reassured in part that a lot of consideration has gone into the provision and that it was not just added as an override. Clearly, there are distinctions between the 1987 Act and this Bill, not least in relation to the potential powers of the OFT, as we discussed at length earlier. One concern that arose was that the OFT had powers over and above those of an investigator and was much more similar to a prosecutor, which of course relates to the SFO's powers under the 1987 Act and the power to override.
I am not entirely comfortable with the explanation that we have heard. However, on balance, we probably want to move on at this juncture, so I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
