Clause 65
10:00 am
Henry Bellingham (Shadow Minister, Justice; North West Norfolk, Conservative)
The Government amendments are logical and sensible, but why were they not included in the original Bill? When the Bill was being discussed, it had been around for a while and the Department has had a long time to prepare it. I refer to one important amendment in particular.
The Government are introducing quite a few amendments at this stage. Those amendments are neither in response to what was discussed on Second Reading, nor to representations made by either the official Opposition or the Liberal Democrats. Will the Minister enlighten the Committee about where the amendments are coming from and why the Bill was not 100 per cent. right the first time? Of course, it must be got 100 per cent. right and I take on board the point that she has made that it is a moving target and we are talking about work in progress. However, one of the amendments in particular is an important one and it is surprising, to say the least, that it was not included in the original Bill.