Lord Burnett of Maldon (CB)

My Lords, I first associate myself with the words of those who spoke in tribute to Lord Justice William Davis. News of his death on Saturday morning reached his fellow judges, and former judges, like a thunderclap. He really was tremendously admired and liked. He would take on any additional role that either I or, now, the Lady Chief Justice asked him to assume. He did so smilingly and always with good humour. He will be much missed. I also associate myself with noble Lords who paid tribute to the Minister for the way this legislation has been piloted through Parliament. I say that despite personally not considering it necessary. It followed the firing off of a letter from the Lord Chancellor at the first whiff of political grapeshot, but we are where we are. In particular, I thank the Minister and his team for the personal courtesy that they showed me in discussing a number of issues that arose in the course of the Bill’s passage. It is perhaps a pity that the Government accepted no amendments in the end, from any noble Lord, but I entirely understand the political imperative for that. Like others, I congratulate the Minister, if that is not thought to be impertinent, on the way in which he conducted this Bill and, more generally, on his debut in this House.