§ [No. 12]
§ Clause 2, page 3, line 34, after "(4)" insert "within one month".
§ Baroness BIRKMy Lords, I beg to move that this House doth agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 12. This Amendment provides that if the site operator receives a request for the information in writing he must provide it within one month of receiving the request. If he fails to do so without reasonable excuse, he will be liable to a fine of up to £50. As the provision was originally worded there was no specific limit to the period within which the information had to be furnished. That has now been remedied by this Amendment. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That this House doth agree with the Commons in the said Amendment.—(Baroness Birk.)
§ Lord ELTONMy Lords, on a small point of detail, could the noble Baroness confirm to me that what is meant by "a month" is a calendar month? Presumably we are speaking of either 30 or 31 days. Could the noble Baroness just give us an assurance that that is right?
§ Baroness BIRKMy Lords, I imagine so. I think "within a month" means the same as it does when the phrase is used throughout all legislation. I imagine it is a calendar month. Yes, I am told that it is a calendar month, so I can confirm that.