Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [HL]

We agree that an annual general meeting is a good idea; the issue between us is whether it should be provided for in the Bill. The lack of an explicit requirement for such an annual open meeting—again, I am conscious that I am repeating what I said in the debate on the previous amendment—follows the SOCA legislation as well as the Natural England legislation. The noble Lord, Lord Hodgson, knows that the Cabinet Office guidance on NDPBs strongly recommends that an annual open meeting should be held for them where possible. I confirm again that the LBRO will be consistent with those standards. Whatever the statutory position, it will hold an annual public meeting, even in its current form, as a company wholly owned by guarantee. If the noble Lord is concerned that there will be no annual general meetings, his concern, if I may say so, is unwarranted. We do not feel that it is necessary for this to be in the Bill.