UK Parliament / Open data

United Kingdom Internal Market Bill

My Lords, I added my name to Amendment 37, tabled by the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh. However, there are several other amendments on the same theme, all highlighting important considerations that should be legitimate aims. The legitimate aims in Amendment 37 have been in use from the EU treaties, as the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, explained. That makes a starting point: they have been tried and tested as well as embodying the status quo, even though, as the noble Baroness, Lady Finlay, and the noble Lord, Lord Young, explained, in the EU, they apply in a wider context to mutual recognition as well.

8.15 pm

I also see merit in the other amendments itemising and making certain various objectives, such as the heading of protection of public policy. I do not see the amendments as mutually exclusive, and the message is clear that Clause 8(6) is presently not wide enough. I am sure that the Minister may say that it could be amended by the Henry VIII power in Clause 8(7), but that is worrying in itself. It should be got right here, using a combination of broad categories such as protection of public policy and other fundamental ones.

I am also taken with the formulation used by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hope. He has already explained well the basis of where he got the subject matter, but I was interested that he referenced regulation,

which is rather more precise than an objective. It seems that that might tie it in to the extent of devolved powers as expressed through regulation and make it simpler to adjudicate. That is a point worth examining further to see whether it has any useful significance in a wider way.

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
807 cc322-3 
Session
2019-21
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Back to top