Member

My noble friend Lady Chakrabarti has made the point that it is either a matter of principle or a matter of cost. It cannot be both. I am saying simply that if the Government were to accept this amendment, I cannot answer the points made by the noble Viscount because I do not know what that commitment is. The noble Lord, Lord Empey, asked where that resource comes from—existing legal aid or an increase in the budget. Those are valid questions, and I cannot answer them honestly to the Committee today. It might be a matter of principle, and I accept that could be the position that Members wish the Committee and the Government to take, but at the moment it is not a costed matter of principle and cannot be judged accordingly. That does not mean that it is not a valid principle, but the argument I have put is that that basis of advice is available and it can be expanded accordingly.