My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Young, for introducing the amendment in a largely constructive way, although she referred to an "impasse", which is not quite the word that I would have used. I hope that I can reassure her that, far from there being deadlock,...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness, Lady Young, for introducing the amendment in a largely constructive way, although she referred to an "impasse", which is not quite the word that I would have used. I hope that I can reassure her that, far from there being deadlock,...

Yes, my Lords; but Ofcom, of course, operates within the constraints established in existing legislation. On the noble Lord’s suggestion that this might give rise to tensions between the department and Ofcom, I have no doubt that in an extreme case, where the issue was of such substance that Ofcom...

Yes, my Lords; but Ofcom, of course, operates within the constraints established in existing legislation. On the noble Lord’s suggestion that this might give rise to tensions between the department and Ofcom, I have no doubt that in an extreme case, where the issue was of such substance that Ofcom...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Howard of Rising, for introducing this amendment and to the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, for his comments. It will already have been recognised in our debates on the two preceding groups of amendments that the Government have listened carefully to...

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Howard of Rising, for introducing this amendment and to the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, for his comments. It will already have been recognised in our debates on the two preceding groups of amendments that the Government have listened carefully to...

5: Clause 1, page 1, line 10, leave out "appropriate levels of" 6: Clause 1, page 1, line 11, after "content" insert ", where appropriate" 7: Clause 1, page 1, line 12, leave out ", wherever possible" and insert "(taking account of the interests of citizens and the interests of...

5: Clause 1, page 1, line 10, leave out "appropriate levels of" 6: Clause 1, page 1, line 11, after "content" insert ", where appropriate" 7: Clause 1, page 1, line 12, leave out ", wherever possible" and insert "(taking account of the interests of citizens and the interests of...

These are the seductions of office, my Lords. The last three contributors invited me to range widely as a result of this amendment. I think that the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, is asking me to define in a few succinct phrases over the course of an hour and half the...

These are the seductions of office, my Lords. The last three contributors invited me to range widely as a result of this amendment. I think that the noble Lord, Lord Lucas, is asking me to define in a few succinct phrases over the course of an hour and half the...

moved Amendment No. 42: 42: Clause 10, page 6, line 34, at end insert— ““( ) For the purposes of subsection (1) an account is to be treated as remaining open where it is closed otherwise than on the instructions of the holder of the account.”” The noble Lord said:...

moved Amendment No. 42: 42: Clause 10, page 6, line 34, at end insert— ““( ) For the purposes of subsection (1) an account is to be treated as remaining open where it is closed otherwise than on the instructions of the holder of the account.”” The noble Lord said:...

I am not sure that I can respond to the noble Baroness’ interesting but challenging question directly, but let me adumbrate the principle again. First, as I said to the noble Lord, Lord Shutt, we are seeking to make sure that there are no undue obstructions on resources being made...

I am not sure that I can respond to the noble Baroness’ interesting but challenging question directly, but let me adumbrate the principle again. First, as I said to the noble Lord, Lord Shutt, we are seeking to make sure that there are no undue obstructions on resources being made...

I never thought I would see the day when the noble Baroness was eager to see the Treasury have additional powers, certainly not while I was standing at this Dispatch Box, but she is, and I can emphasise to her on principle that I disagree. This is a private scheme...

I never thought I would see the day when the noble Baroness was eager to see the Treasury have additional powers, certainly not while I was standing at this Dispatch Box, but she is, and I can emphasise to her on principle that I disagree. This is a private scheme...

That is an interesting point. It is so interesting that I am lost in interest rather than able to provide an immediate reply. As I said, I have had it confirmed that if a transaction occurs in relation to the account, it must be because of an instruction given by...

That is an interesting point. It is so interesting that I am lost in interest rather than able to provide an immediate reply. As I said, I have had it confirmed that if a transaction occurs in relation to the account, it must be because of an instruction given by...

As the noble Baroness said, she promised to return to this and I knew that she would fulfil her promise. I hope that I am better equipped today to respond to the points that she made. Perhaps a little refreshment on the issues after the new year is appropriate. This...

As the noble Baroness said, she promised to return to this and I knew that she would fulfil her promise. I hope that I am better equipped today to respond to the points that she made. Perhaps a little refreshment on the issues after the new year is appropriate. This...

I would not want to be accused of excessive naivety about how financial institutions work. We should recall the purpose of the transfer of funds. If the bank reaches a judgment, the account is dormant; the bank is not the beneficiary—the funds go to the reclaim fund. I am not...

I would not want to be accused of excessive naivety about how financial institutions work. We should recall the purpose of the transfer of funds. If the bank reaches a judgment, the account is dormant; the bank is not the beneficiary—the funds go to the reclaim fund. I am not...

Clause 10 sets out the minimum conditions that an account must meet to be regarded as dormant. No-mail accounts and fixed-term accounts which have not reached their maturity date are excluded from the definition. That is because the aim is to cover accounts that are genuinely dormant. It is difficult...

Clause 10 sets out the minimum conditions that an account must meet to be regarded as dormant. No-mail accounts and fixed-term accounts which have not reached their maturity date are excluded from the definition. That is because the aim is to cover accounts that are genuinely dormant. It is difficult...

The noble Baroness is fertile in producing some interesting illustrations of how dormancy may not be defined in the Bill. This is another interesting illustration, which I will probably need to reflect on, as will my officials. However, she will recognise that banks are not totally unfamiliar with the complexities...

The noble Baroness is fertile in producing some interesting illustrations of how dormancy may not be defined in the Bill. This is another interesting illustration, which I will probably need to reflect on, as will my officials. However, she will recognise that banks are not totally unfamiliar with the complexities...

The definitions of dormancy are limited because they mean that a customer sees those resources going into the reclaim fund. They are minimalist definitions. The bank can follow its normal procedures for reaching a judgment on whether an account is dormant in the circumstances that the noble Baroness identified. She...

The definitions of dormancy are limited because they mean that a customer sees those resources going into the reclaim fund. They are minimalist definitions. The bank can follow its normal procedures for reaching a judgment on whether an account is dormant in the circumstances that the noble Baroness identified. She...

The answer to the noble Lord is definitively yes. Instructions would have been given and the bank would therefore operate under them. Those instructions would obtain, until, for some reason which would have to be justifiable in terms of law, the bank was able to show that the claimant no...

The answer to the noble Lord is definitively yes. Instructions would have been given and the bank would therefore operate under them. Those instructions would obtain, until, for some reason which would have to be justifiable in terms of law, the bank was able to show that the claimant no...

I imagine that all noble Lords share that sentiment.

I imagine that all noble Lords share that sentiment.

The noble Baroness fairly described the powers of the Information Commissioner and I do not need to repeat those nor enter into a debate on them. The amendment would go further than the Data Protection Act 1998 to allow the Information Commissioner to exercise powers in relation to any information...

The noble Baroness fairly described the powers of the Information Commissioner and I do not need to repeat those nor enter into a debate on them. The amendment would go further than the Data Protection Act 1998 to allow the Information Commissioner to exercise powers in relation to any information...

We have already cantered around this course several times and each of the jumps is becoming increasingly familiar. With this amendment, the noble Baroness again wants a fully inclusive definition of ““dormancy”” to be put in statute, imposing on the banks all the circumstances in which they will be obliged...

We have already cantered around this course several times and each of the jumps is becoming increasingly familiar. With this amendment, the noble Baroness again wants a fully inclusive definition of ““dormancy”” to be put in statute, imposing on the banks all the circumstances in which they will be obliged...

Not at all. We will follow the principle of additionality. It is very important that we should, which is why we propose to set up the machinery in this way to guarantee that. Those are the principles under which the Big Lottery Fund has been obliged to operate since its...

Not at all. We will follow the principle of additionality. It is very important that we should, which is why we propose to set up the machinery in this way to guarantee that. Those are the principles under which the Big Lottery Fund has been obliged to operate since its...

I am grateful to all noble Lords who have participated in this interesting debate. We have certainly changed gear; it always adds a certain liveliness to proceedings when we discuss spending. We shall discuss these issues for a little while yet. An amendment has been tabled with the dreaded concept...

I am grateful to all noble Lords who have participated in this interesting debate. We have certainly changed gear; it always adds a certain liveliness to proceedings when we discuss spending. We shall discuss these issues for a little while yet. An amendment has been tabled with the dreaded concept...