Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill [Lords]
9:10 am
Mrs Cheryl Gillan (Shadow Minister, Home, Constitutional & Legal Affairs; Chesham and Amersham, Conservative)
I echo the words of the Minister, Dame Marion. It is delightful to see you in the Chair, particularly as you have such a long track record. It is so nice to be able to call you Dame Marion, not Mrs. Roe, because it has a much better ring to it. The honour is greatly deserved.
We have pursued the Bill in both Houses in a constructive spirit. There are differences between the shape of the Bill as the Conservatives would like it to be and that which the Minister is proposing. I hope, Dame Marion, that we will not give you and Mr. Benton too much trouble. We are practising grown-up politics: perhaps that is why nobody takes any notice outside this Room and the Chamber. It is rather sad that that should happen when Parliament is doing its best.
As you will have noticed, Dame Marion, we are slightly top heavy on the Conservative side of the Opposition Bench. I am delighted that my hon. Friends the Members for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) and for Epping Forest (Mrs. Laing) will join me: we shall be boxing and coxing.
As the Minister said, a couple of issues need to be addressed. It has not escaped all our notices that part of the Bill is arriving at a very late stage. The train left the station six months ago in the Lords, and the other place has not had an opportunity to consider many of the Government amendments being put forward. Will the Minister comment on the position of their lordships' House so far as that is concerned and on what will happen when the Bill returns to the upper House? I would also like him to give a definite date for the tabling of the remaining amendments and assurances that they will be the last amendments tabled, other than those that may be negotiated during this Committee stage. The Government may be
minded to accept some, because of the powerful arguments of his hon. Friends and of Opposition Members.
It is fair to say that we were disappointed that various amendments were produced at such a late stage. It is a pity. I want the Minister's undertaking that should the Committee agree, by consensus, that we need extra time to consider provisions when they come forward, the usual channels will have the negotiations that we have anticipated and will have the power to extend the Committee stage or to arrange for any sitting to sit much later than planned. That aside, I look forward to our deliberations and, as the Minister said, I hope that we can produce a piece of legislation that does justice to the serious subjects that it covers.