HL Deb 19 July 1999 vol 604 c735

4 Clause 5, page 3, line 28, leave out from beginning of line to the end of line 46 and insert—

("(1) If the Commission has reason to believe that a person has committed or is committing an unlawful act, it may (subject to section 3(3)) enter into an agreement in writing under this section with that person on the assumption that that belief is well founded (whether or not that person admits that he committed or is committing the act in question).

(2) An agreement under this section is one by which—

  1. (a) the Commission undertakes not to take any relevant enforcement action in relation to the unlawful act in question; and
  2. (b) the person concerned undertakes—
    1. (i) not to commit any further unlawful acts of the same kind (and, where appropriate, to cease committing the unlawful act in question);
    2. (ii) to take such action (which may include ceasing an activity or taking continuing action over any period) as may be specified in the agreement.").

Baroness Blackstone

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 4. In speaking to this amendment, I shall speak also to Commons Amendments Nos. 5 and 7. This group of amendments concerns written agreements. Amendments Nos. 4 and 5, taken together, allow the DRC and the organisation to enter into a written agreement at an earlier stage than originally provided for and make clear what terms may go in written agreements. They also define more fully on the face of the Bill the scope of written agreements. Amendment No. 7 is a technical amendment.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 4.—(Baroness Blackstone.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.