Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)

My Lords, this group of amendments revisits the issue of the definitions of different-sized businesses. I note the new amendment in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Fox, which highlights the same concerns as we raised in Committee. Those concerns remain. There has been a proliferation of definitions for different-sized businesses to suit a multitude of aims of the Government of the day. Currently, a minimum of six statutory frameworks use materially different-sized criteria, as well as other definitions existing in sector-specific regulations and guidelines. I know that the Minister will agree when I reiterate that this is currently too complex a system. The Government should aim to place as few obstacles as possible in the path of business; that means cutting the bureaucratic paperwork and jargon that firms complete to meet their legal obligations. The proliferation of business size definitions is a case in point. They may not be entirely contradictory, but they are certainly not complementary, and I believe that everyone would benefit from a more streamlined approach. I entirely accept the Minister’s point in Committee that such a wide reform cannot take place in a Bill with as narrow a scope as this one. However, he should at least commit to restricting the definitions within this Act to those that already exist, to the best of his ability. Such a step clearly has support from all sides of the House. Similarly, given that the Minister has indicated his support for some reform of definitions, can he commit to revisiting this issue with me at a future point? I hope that he can agree to this and I look forward to his response. I beg to move.