Let me draw the distinction I am trying to make for my hon. Friend. In legislation we set out the changes to the law that we want to see. With the legislation we publish White Papers, which expand in more detail on why it is that we are bringing forward that legislation and what we hope to achieve. The principle and the detail of legislation are debated in the House, but we do not include all of that wider information in legislation. In legislation we stick to writing the law. We do not include all of the surrounding information on the effects that it will have.

I am not clear, and I do not think that Ministers and officials drafting the legislation would be clear about what they had to do to comply with clauses 3 or 4, which are linked, in order to make that particular statement. Of course it is important that people know what effect the law will have, which is why we try to draft it in a very clear and straightforward way. Then we have extensive debate in Parliament so that people are clear about what it does, but it is not as straightforward as my hon. Friend thinks. That is why it is our business to debate legislation.

Much argument is made about the effect of legislation, we tease out the details and legislation is often changed as it moves through the House. I do not think it is clear and straightforward. The burden put on Ministers is potentially quite a significant one, without the benefit of citizens being any clearer than they are today about the effect that the legislation will have. That is why I think the Committee should oppose clause 4.