My Lords, standing here at this Dispatch Box, I would offer only a government view. I view it as entirely appropriate for the model we have set out today. I acknowledged the wider debate being had within the House of Lords on different mechanisms of scrutiny and lawmaking. As I have noted, the approach we have taken in this Bill has not been drawn to the House’s attention by the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee.
In the model of financial services regulation that we seek to put in place, a large number of the rule-making powers flow to the regulators. We are delegating that further to the independent regulators that have the expertise to make rules in this area. This is the right model for the UK. We have consulted on it carefully and extensively, and we received broad support in that consultation. It reflects the careful approach we have taken and the choice we have made as to the model for the regulation of our financial services.
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I turn to my noble friend’s Amendments 244 and 245 and seek to reassure her that we intend to work at pace, but also recognise that there is a balance to be struck with the need for proper consultation, engagement and scrutiny of replacement rules. The key thing here for the Government is to think about the priority we give to undertaking what is a large piece of work. As I said, the Government have set out which measures they attach priority to and which they will seek to address first in their forward look. That means we will be able to deliver changes where the benefit can be greatest, while also making sure we have the time to conduct the process properly.