Simon Hughes (Shadow Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs & Shadow Attorney General, Constitutional Affairs; North Southwark & Bermondsey, Liberal Democrat)

I have one question. The clause sets out who the supervising authority is—an issue to which the hon. Member for Braintree referred earlier. Subsection (1) says that it is the Lord Chancellor or anyone authorised by the Lord Chancellor. Whom does the Department have in mind? We went through this last year with regard to some legislation brought forward by the Department. There was an interim arrangement involving Ministers or civil servants, before a transfer to the Legal Services Commission. It would be interesting to know whom Ministers have in mind as an agency—it might be individual or whatever—both on an interim basis and in the long term.

Vera Baird (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs; Redcar, Labour)

We do not have anyone in mind,other than the Lord Chancellor, at present. We are introducing clause 124 with an eye to the possibility of the role being delegated in the future. If that ever occurred, it would be likeliest to go to a judicial officeholder, but not inconceivable that it would go to some existing national advice board, such as the citizens advice bureaux. At present, we do not have anyone to whom we intend to delegate the role.

Simon Hughes (Shadow Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs & Shadow Attorney General, Constitutional Affairs; North Southwark & Bermondsey, Liberal Democrat)

I am grateful. I assume that when the time comes there will be the usual sorts of consultation about the appropriate way forward.

Michael Foster (Assistant Whip (funded by HM Treasury); Worcester, Labour)

On a point of order, Mr. Bercow. Due to the excellent progress that we have made under your chairmanship this afternoon, I beg to move that the Committee do now adjourn.

Further consideration adjourned.—[Mr. Foster.]