Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill

Debate between Matt Hancock and Nicholas Brown

Wednesday 17th October 2012 Commons Chamber

[Matthew Hancock]

Because we want to ensure, as and when technical amendments are considered, that we do not have to water down criminal penalties because of the way that the measures are introduced.

We are not in a position to announce a precise timetable for work on orphan works, but we expect it to be concluded during 2013 and certainly before any regulations are made. I commit the Government to discussing the details with Opposition Front-Bench Members, and others, during that process.

The Government amendments have been tabled with strong support for the IP regime on which much of our industry is based, and although the Government recognise the probing nature of the Opposition amendments, and commit to continued analysis of and engagement on those issues, we do not think that they should be included in the Bill.

Amendment 23 agreed to.

Clause 57

Power to change exceptions: copyright and rights in performances

Amendment made: 24, page 47, line 33, at end insert—

“( ) But regulations under this section may make only such provision as may be made under subsection (2) of section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972 or such provision as could be made under that subsection if paragraph 1(1)(d) of Schedule 2 to that Act did not apply.’.—(Matthew Hancock.)

Clause 68

Extent

Amendments made: 31, page 59, line 34, leave out ‘17(1)(c)’ and insert ‘17(2A)’.

Amendment 32, page 60, line 14, after ‘50,’ insert ‘[Osborne estate],’.

Amendment 33, page 60, line 14, after ‘54’ insert ‘and [Estate agency work]’.

Amendment 34, page 60, line 15, at end insert—

‘() section [Civil liability for breach of health and safety duties] extends only to England and Wales and Scotland except that it also extends to Northern Ireland so far as Parts 1 and 4 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 extend there,’.

Amendment 35, page 60, line 16, leave out ‘section’ and insert ‘sections’.

Amendment 36, page 60, line 16, after ‘52’ insert

‘, [Equality Act 2010: third party harassment of employees and applicants] and [Equality Act 2010: obtaining information for proceedings]’.

Amendment 37, page 60, line 16, leave out ‘extends’ and insert

‘and paragraphs 1, 52 to 54, 56 and 61 of Schedule [Adjudicators: minor and consequential amendments] extend’.

Amendment 38, page 60, line 17, leave out ‘section’ and insert ‘sections’.

Amendment 39, page 60, line 17, before ‘51’ insert

‘[Listed buildings in England: agreements and orders granting listed building consent],’.

Amendment 40, page 60, line 17, before ‘51’ insert

‘[Listed buildings in England: certificates of lawfulness],’.

Amendment 41, page 60, line 17, after ‘51’ insert ‘ and [Adjudicators]’.

Amendment 42, page 60, line 17, leave out first ‘Schedule’ and insert ‘Schedules’.

Amendment 43, page 60, line 17, before ‘16’ insert

‘and [Local listed building consent orders: procedure]’.

Amendment 44, page 60, line 17, after ‘17’ insert

‘, Schedule [Adjudicators: bankruptcy applications by debtors and bankruptcy orders] and paragraphs 2 to 51, 55, 57 to 60 and 62 of Schedule [Adjudicators: minor and consequential amendments]’.

Amendment 45, page 60, line 22, at end insert

‘except that section [Power to provide for equal pay audits] extends only to England and Wales and Scotland’.—(Matthew Hancock.)



Clause 69

Commencement

Amendments made: 46, page 60, line 26, at end insert—

‘() section [Osborne estate];’.

Amendment 47, page 60, line 26, at end insert—

‘() section [Power to provide for equal pay audits];’.—(Matthew Hancock.)

[Mr Nicholas Brown (Newcastle upon Tyne East) (Lab)]

I beg to move amendment 69, page 60, line 30, at end insert—

‘(d) Sections [Local authorities: powers relating to deemed consent] and [Restriction of advertisements relating to property letting].’.

--- Later in debate ---

[Matthew Hancock]

I commend the right hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne East (Mr Brown) for his assiduous and long-standing opposition to “To let” signs. I wonder what has driven him to this position, but I recognise and celebrate his tenacity in finding occasions on which to make such proposals in the House—[Interruption.] I might have a little bit of good news for him, if Opposition Members would care to listen.

I appreciate that the proliferation of “To let” signs can be a serious problem, but new clause 21 is slightly disproportionate. The right hon. Gentleman pointed out deficiencies in the current remedy for the local planning authority—seeking a direction under regulation 7 of the Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) Regulations 2007—but his solution is to ban “To let” boards unless a local authority makes byelaws to allow them.

[Mr Brown]

That was my alternative proposal, which I have not moved. My more moderate proposal would allow the local authority to supplement the statutory regulations rather than replace them.

[Matthew Hancock]

I agree with the right hon. Gentleman on allowing local authorities to have the power to change the situation on the ground with regard to “To let” signs. The powers exist, but there are very few applications for them—there have been only 10 in the past six years—which indicates that the problem is not hugely widespread, although it is a serious issue in some areas.

The directions tend to fall into two groups. The first is where there are large houses in sensitive architectural areas, such as Kensington and Chelsea in London, or Brighton and Hove. The second group is where there is a large concentration of student houses, such as in Leeds, Loughborough, Nottingham or Newcastle. Authorities in such areas have already successfully obtained directions and are exercising the necessary control. Therefore, the ability to take control is in law.

The right hon. Gentleman’s solution is to ensure that, instead of being able to apply, more often the power would need to be put in place, but that would be an extra burden. I understand the concern, however, and agree that the Secretary of State has more important things to do. New clause 20 proposes to take the Secretary of State out of the decision-making process. I shall take that point away and discuss it with ministerial colleagues, including in the Department for Communities and Local Government, and with him. I hope that he can take that assurance and that we can take things forward from there.

[Mr Nicholas Brown]

I am grateful for the Minister’s assurance. I wrote to the Department at the time of my ten-minute rule Bill on this subject offering to co-operate with the Government by putting it into Committee and accepting their amendments and any tidying up they wanted, if they agreed to facilitate the Bill’s progress through the House, which, as he will know, is in their gift—without it, I would have had to overcome many more hurdles. I am grateful for his assurance, then, and I hope that he stays in office long enough to implement it, because the previous Ministers did not even have time to answer my letter before being dispatched elsewhere—or, in the case of one of them, just dispatched! I look forward to working with him, and, given his assurance, I will not press my amendment to a vote. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.

Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.

Clause 50

Sunset and review provisions

[Matthew Hancock]

I beg to move amendment 21, page 42, line 38, leave out ‘, other than the Scottish Ministers,’.