Part of Enterprise Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 6:45 pm ar 23 Ebrill 2002.
I always give very good answers, as my hon. Friend is well aware.
The power to enter premises under a warrant is an important power, and without it the prohibition regime under the Competition Act 1998 would not be effective. It is important that the OFT can use the warrant to search for the required information without being hindered by a lack of specialist expertise, for example. That is the purpose of the clause. The expert would have to be named on the warrant and approved by the High Court judge issuing the warrant, which is an important safeguard as warrants are not lightly issued by the judiciary. All those factors stack up to ensure that investigations are effective.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 194 ordered to stand part of the Bill.