I gather that the right way to respond is to say that I am obliged to the Minister for his response. The issue is really about how
fair the market is going to be to the three groups concerned. Obviously, the regulator has got to decide to ensure that there is fairness in relation to the individual companies involved; there has to be respect for the overall pricing and impact that it has. But the missing ingredient is the consumers, and how they will be affected by decisions that are taken. I sometimes wonder whether the regulator has the position of the consumer centrally in its focus when it does so.
I am also minded to reflect on the fact that, with the decision of the House to impose a different form of USO within the Bill, there may be implications for how Ofcom might have to operate in this market, and it may be sensible to give time for that to be reflected on and see how it works out as we move forward a little further.
5.30 pm
I notice that the Minister did not answer my question about whether Ministers felt that this was a fair and equable decision, relying instead on advice from Ofcom—but that really was not the point. At the end of the day, there is a tension between what Ministers and government might wish to see and what Ofcom is prepared to agree to in relation to the market, the individual companies and consumers. I note that the Minister was silent on that point.
Finally, in reflecting on the powers that Ofcom currently has to intervene in this area, the Minister was able to point out that Ofcom has the powers to take an interest directly in what is happening in terms of the allocation of spectrum but that the last time it did that was in 2010. Of course, that was a time when it is generally regarded we had a balanced arrangement in relation to the companies.
I think that there is enough in what we are currently doing and decisions that we have previously taken this afternoon for this to be an ongoing discussion. At this stage, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.