Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill

Lord Tyrie Excerpts

Report stage
Wednesday 13th March 2024 Lords Chamber

Tabled by

[Lord Tyrie]

65: After Clause 141, insert the following new Clause—
“Review of whistleblowing provisions(1) The Secretary of State must commission an independent review, chaired by someone appointed with the consent of the relevant Select Committee of the House of Commons, of the extent to which whistleblowers are adequately protected and supported under the competition and markets regime in the United Kingdom.(2) The review under subsection (1) must consider, but is not limited to assessments of—(a) whether existing protections are sufficient to encourage whistleblowers to act;(b) what protections exist in competition regimes in other jurisdictions;(c) whether further protections should be introduced and what form they should take;(d) any matter related to whistleblowing provisions that the relevant Select Committee of the House of Commons reasonably requests that the review consider.(3) The review under subsection (1) must be published and laid before Parliament within 12 months of the passing of this Act.(4) In this section “relevant Select Committee of the House of Commons” means the Business and Trade Select Committee and any successor.”

[Lord Tyrie (Non-Afl)]

This was all debated on Monday evening, but I am sure that many of us have already forgotten exactly what happened then. The amendment would secure a review for improving the prospects for effective whistleblowing. The case—in my view and, it seems, those of almost everybody who participated—is unanswerable. I was not surprised that the Government did not come forward with any effective answers to it, but I was surprised—

[Lord Evans of Rainow (Con)]

My Lords, does the noble Lord wish to move the amendment or not? He already spoke to it on Monday, so he cannot speak once again.

[Lord Tyrie (Non-Afl)]

I do not wish to move the amendment.

Amendment 65 not moved.