Baroness Finn (Con)

My Lords, as this is the final group today, I will be brief. I thank the Minister. I was going to say, “I wish to make it clear that we intend to test the opinion of the House on Amendment 35”, which will be called on the second day of Report. Given what the Minister has said, we will reflect on that, but I am giving notice that we may still intend to test the opinion of the House. We believe that this is a well-drafted and constructive proposal that seeks to work with the Government in their efforts, and that it should form an integral part of the Bill. We can see how what is proposed marries up with that. The amendment goes to the heart of the balance between empowering members of the Public Sector Fraud Authority effectively and ensuring that the use of powers is subject to proper, transparent oversight. We believe, as the Minister has said, that there is genuine scope for compromise. Our aim has always been not to constrain the Government but to ensure that, where such significant investigatory powers are granted, they are exercised with the appropriate safeguards, transparency and oversight that we think are essential if we are to maintain public confidence and protect individuals while still enabling the PSFA to pursue fraud effectively. The Government have chosen a test and learn approach to the Bill—sorry, I have to do this—which has replaced the former proof of concept. Such an approach must be accompanied by clear provisions to report and evaluate those tests, ensuring that the learning happens in the right way. Meeting the Government’s own test for the use of PACE powers is a key part of that framework, and that is what our Amendment 35 seeks to achieve. But I thank the Minister for her words, and we will reflect. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.