Member

On Amendments 143, 196, 286, 287 and 288, I recognise the importance of the ORR’s independence when determining access appeals. Let me reassure the noble Lord, Lord Lansley—I spoke to him yesterday but, as noble Lords know, he cannot be in his place today—that the ORR will determine appeals independently and will itself be responsible for setting the practice and procedure for its appeals process. It has already begun engaging with industry on this ahead of formal consultation. However, this does not mean that there can be no legitimate role for the Secretary of State’s guidance. There may, for example, be matters of general principle relevant to the exercise of the ORR’s appeal functions on which guidance will be appropriate. For example, at some point in the future it might be desirable to provide guidance about the timeframes in which appeals ought to be heard to ensure timely resolution.