Republic of Belarus (Sanctions) (EU Exit) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

Baroness Scott of Needham Market Excerpts

Wednesday 28th June 2023 Grand Committee

I want to reiterate the point—I know that the Minister has heard me bang on about this—that sanctions are one thing but, without matching them with strong enforcement and investigation, they will be doomed to fail. One key thing about the debate in the Commons on this particular issue, which my honourable friend Stephen Doughty raised, is that a better understanding of those enforcement and investigation elements acts as a very strong deterrent, which stops people avoiding or trying to get round the sanctions regime. He asked a specific question about the transparency of this and mentioned how the OFSI website does not show any financial penalties for non-compliance since September 2022. Of course, as we heard in the debate, the Minister’s response was to say that he would write to my honourable friend—oh, there we go, mid-stream.

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Baroness Scott of Needham Market) (LD)]

My Lords, a Division has been called. I understand that there are to be two Divisions in quick succession, so I propose that we reconvene 10 minutes after the second Division starts, or sooner if we are all back.