My Lords, I put my name to Amendment 69 as well, and I support exactly what my noble and learned friend Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd said about it.
It is worth noting that the definition of “interested party” has to be read together with Clause 70(1). The point is that to apply to the Competition Appeal Tribunal you have to be two things: an “interested party” and “aggrieved”. The definition takes you part of the way there. I am thinking in particular of the Secretary of State, who is an interested party but in order to apply has to demonstrate that in some respect he or she is aggrieved by the making of the subsidy decision.
7.15 pm
I am puzzled by the situation in which the Secretary of State may be aggrieved. I wonder whether the Minister, when he comes to reply, can put a little more colour on this provision so that we understand it. In particular, if it is possible to contemplate that the Secretary of State is indeed aggrieved, it strengthens the case for saying that the devolved Administrations should be included as well, because the chances are that they too could be aggrieved in exactly the same way. Perhaps the Minister can explain how the whole clause is intended to work.