§ Lord Brightmanasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why they refused to include in the Competition Bill an index of defined expressions (60 in number) as in the Government of Wales Bill, the Scotland Bill the School Standards and Framework Bill and the Data Protection Bill enabling the reader to ascertain instantly whether a particular word has a special meaning and where that meaning is to be found; and [HL 2733]
Whether they consider that the inclusion in the Competition Bill of an index of defined expressions would or would not be user-friendly. [HL2734]
§ Lord Clinton-DavisThe Government recognise, as the examples quoted show, that an index of defined expressions is useful in some Acts. However whether this is so is a matter for judgment in respect of each Act. In respect of the Competition Bill advice was sought from Parliamentary Counsel. His view was that the nature and structure of the Competition Bill made an index unnecessary and unhelpful for users. The Government accepted this advice.