Member

Amendment 53 seeks to remove Clause 10(2). We understand Peers’ concern around the use of Henry VIII powers. The power is crucial for us to keep up to date with the ever-changing nature of e-commerce and to close loopholes as they arise; it must be retained. We have included appropriate parliamentary scrutiny via the affirmative procedure. Despite our efforts to create a definition that is inclusive of current and future online marketplaces, we expect that online supply chains will continue to evolve. Even within the past few years, we have seen new entrants and evolving business models for online marketplaces emerge. For example, Temu, which launched in the UK in April 2023, has amassed something like 11 million UK visitors per month. TikTok Shop launched in the UK in 2021 for businesses to sell products directly from social media videos. B&Q launched its online marketplace in March 2022, with a focus on selling via verified sellers. This demonstrates the importance of the power to amend the definition so that we can adapt to future changes and address future models that may arise.