Member

New clause 7 would require the Secretary of State to publish a full impact assessment before exercising any power under the Bill, rather than after the fact, or indeed, not at all. We think that before Ministers exercise the sweeping powers in the Bill, with potentially billions of pounds at stake, the least the House should expect is a clear published impact assessment, because good policy begins with good evidence. This is not about slowing down necessary action; it is about making sure that decisions of this scale are taken on the basis of evidence, not urgency or political pressure. An impact assessment would set out the financial costs, economic implications and potential risks, ensuring that Parliament and the public understand the full consequences of the intervention.