Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Regulators: Statutory Duties

Thursday 30 November 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Questions addressed statutory duties of the Competition and Markets Authority and other regulators.
  • John Penrose noted the importance of clear instructions from Parliament for regulatory bodies.
  • Andrew Bridgen criticized the CMA for lacking sufficient power against large corporations and online platforms.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 John Penrose Con
Business & Trade
Context

The MP is concerned about the clarity and effectiveness of statutory duties given to economic regulators, particularly the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). He points out that clear legal duties are crucial for regulators to understand their roles.

Question

If she will make a comparative assessment of the adequacy of the number of statutory duties of the Competition and Markets Authority and other regulators reporting to her Department. The MP notes that clear instructions from Parliament about how regulatory powers should be used is critical, citing the CMA's primary duty as an example.

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

The CMA has a primary statutory duty to promote competition both inside and outside the UK for the benefit of consumers, which provides the CMA with a clear, strong focus on delivering for consumers. In our recent steer to the CMA, we did point out how very important it is that it focuses also on economic growth.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a comparative assessment of statutory duties as requested

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Q2 John Penrose Con
Business & Trade
Context

The MP notes that his amendment to the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill was supported by others in Parliament. He argues that clear legal duties leave no doubt about what Parliament expects from economic regulators.

Question

Does the Minister agree that the CMA's instruction is a model of the kind of clear and strong legal duty that leaves no doubt in regulators' minds about the job that Parliament has asked them to do? Will he join me in pushing for equally clear and focused duties for other economic regulators where, sadly, the same cannot currently be said. The MP highlights his work on reducing regulatory burdens.

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for his very important work in this area. I know that reducing the regulatory burden is a cause that is very close to his heart, and to the hearts of those in the Chamber today who supported his amendment in the recent Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill. That view is also shared by myself and by the Secretary of State. We are very keen to make sure that, as well as ensuring that sectors are well regulated, our economic regulators focus on competition and economic growth.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not explicitly agree or commit to pushing for similar clarity in duties for other regulators

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Q3 Andrew Bridgen Con
Business & Trade
Context

The MP criticises the CMA for not actively enforcing competition rules against multinational corporations and investment funds that have more power than sovereign governments. He believes the Government should give the CMA stronger powers to tackle monopolies.

Question

I disagree. The Competition and Markets Authority is not only the dog that does not bark, but the dog that does not bite. We see multinational corporations and investment funds of such a size that they have more power than a sovereign Government. When will the Government give the CMA the powers and authority needed to tackle the corporate monopolies and cartels that have so much sway over our lives?

Answer from Kevin Hollinrake

The hon. Member raises an important matter. That is why the Government are legislating in this space, through the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, which gives the CMA huge new powers, particularly over some of our largest online platforms—platforms that have what we describe as strategic market status. This is world-leading legislation that will tackle many of the examples of detriment that he will be aware of and that he raises in his question today.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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