Member

The noble and learned Lord, Lord Hardie, has much more expertise at the Bar than I have, since I am not a lawyer, but I can see a good point when I hear one. I put his question to the noble Baroness: if—this has never happened, we are told, but who knows?—a whistleblower comes forward and says something that is of massive thematic importance but then turns around and does not consent, if the amendment is agreed, the commissioner cannot investigate it. So control of the investigation is not with the commissioner; it is down to whether or not the whistleblower decides to come forward. That is an important consideration for your Lordships.