Member

We hope that the amendments in this group have a clear purpose: to make consultation meaningful. What we are really asking is to understand how meaningful that consultation will be. They would require Ministers, when developing regulations or exercising powers under the Bill, not simply to consult relevant parties but to take into consideration their views: specifically, the views of retailers, the specialist manufacturers—once again, not the large companies—and consumers of relevant products. They would also ensure that smaller and micro businesses, which may find themselves bearing a disproportionate share of compliance costs, are consulted and heard before Part 5 is brought into force. These amendments do not seek to weaken the Bill’s public health objectives, but the Minister will know that I am usually concerned about unintended consequences.