Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [HL]

moved Amendment No. 41: 41: Clause 11, page 5, line 42, after ““publish”” insert ““forthwith”” The noble Lord said: I return to the theme of publicity for the activities of the LBRO. Clause 11 deals with enforcement priorities and requires under Clause 11(3) that the LBRO consults such persons as it considers appropriate. It must then publish details of representations. Because we are talking about priorities here, I think that there is some urgency for publication of the details of representations. Therefore, I seek to insert the word ““forthwith””, so that the LBRO must publish forthwith details of any representations. Secondly, the clause does not necessarily require the names of those who make representations to be disclosed. I imagine that the Minister will fall back on the statutory duty argument that we have had before, but the fact is that he has already talked this afternoon about vexatious litigants and vexatious individuals. It is important that, if people who are compulsive litigants, or whatever, want to make representations, or if people try to find a way to shut off competition by complaining and try to get some enforcement priority in an area that will be of commercial advantage to them, the names of those people should have to be made available by the LBRO. It is not just the green ink brigade; it is those who have other motives for making representations about the enforcement priorities. The amendment is intended to take the enforcement priorities as laid down in Clause 11 but it requires the LBRO rapidly to publish details of representations made, as well as the identity of those who made those representations. I beg to move.