Member

I turn to Amendments 331 and 332, and I note that the noble Baroness, Lady Jones, wants to remove or limit the ORR in this area. Competition law aims to prevent the distortion of markets through anti-competitive agreements between competitors—for example, price fixing—or the abuse of dominant market positions. We do not want this distortive practice in any part of the railway sector. I remind noble Lords that the enforcement of competition law is distinct from the ORR’s proactive duty to promote competition referenced in Clause 20. There is no part of the railway system in which we would support exemptions from competition law compliance, and I therefore urge the noble Baroness not to press these amendments. I am very happy to discuss with her further and, if necessary, to write to her and copy to other Members of this Committee all the answers to some of the questions she posed earlier.