Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 7:36 pm on 29th October 2007.
My Lords, far be it from me to interrupt the Minister when he is in full flow, but he has made his position very clear to the whole House. He acknowledges that many of us here do not agree with that position. The difference is that we have explained why have reached the conclusion that some of us—most of us, including me—arrived at. The noble Lord has said, "This is the Government's position and the Government are not going to budge from it". Fine, I understand that, but can he answer a very simple question: why?