Groceries Code Adjudicator Bill [HL]

Lord Geddes Excerpts

Tuesday 26th June 2012 Grand Committee

[Lord Grantchester]

I rise to propose Amendment 5. Far be it from me to come between my two noble friends on Amendment 4, but I reflect that although there may be very little between them, there is a slight implication for some of the processes in the Bill. I would be interested to hear the Minister’s response to this question.

In proposing Amendment 5, we have approached it from the—

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Lord Geddes)]

With great respect to the noble Lord, I think he means that he is speaking to Amendment 5, not proposing it.

[Lord Grantchester]

Sorry, speaking to Amendment 5—moving Amendment 5.

[Lord Geddes]

No, speaking to Amendment 5.

[Lord Grantchester]

I thank the Deputy Chairman for clarifying that. We have approached it in a simple, straightforward way: that this is, in fact, the role of a regulator. As we have argued and discussed on previous amendments, the role of the regulator is a high-profile one at the moment, with a wide range of powers to effect change in the UK groceries market. It is only appropriate that the Secretary of State should consult with both the relevant Select Committees in the other place to reflect the standing that such a person will have in the business and parliamentary world, so that it is fully transparent to the supply chain that this has been well considered.