Member

The omission of the word “reasonably”, as proposed in this amendment, would force the Secretary of State to press ahead with transferring services to a public sector company in circumstances where it is “practicable” to transfer services, but not reasonably so. For example, if it becomes clear that transferring services on the planned date would cause disruption to services, or require disproportionate cost to avoid that disruption, it might still be “practicable” to go ahead with the transfer, but it might also be in the public interest to delay the transfer by a short time. Under Amendment 30, the transfer would have to go ahead, and that does not appear to be in anybody’s interests.