Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [HL]

My Lords, I sympathise with the amendments of the noble and learned Lord, Lord Lyell. This part of the Bill that has not been properly addressed and, like my noble friend, I would like further assurances concerning the Bill empowering all regulators, and not only investigators and prosecutors, to become judge, jury and sentencers in their own cause. This is subject only to a right of appeal by the business or citizen concerned to a tribunal, probably the first-tier tribunal. It certainly appears to be a constitutional flaw within the Bill. I know that the Minister has no intention to affect negatively small businesses, small farmers, homeowners, drivers, small shopkeepers and others. I would thus be keen for the Minister to clarify the impact of the Bill on small businesses. I hope that conversations may now be set up between the Minister and my noble and learned friend Lord Lyell of Markyate. I would have said ““before Third Reading””, but we have run over time. The Minister has kindly said that there will be second day for this Report stage, which is likely to be 31 March at 7 o’clock in the evening. That will provide time for us to look seriously at this matter, for civil servants to give their views to the Minister, and for the noble and learned Lord, Lord Lyell, long though he may have waited, to have his say. He must feel that the House has listened sympathetically to him and is interested in the outcome. We thank the Minister.