Member

I ask for the indulgence of your Lordships to pay tribute to a retiring colleague in the Civil Service. Many noble Lords will have worked very closely with Matthew Lees over many years. He has been an instrumental player in seeing this Bill through pre-legislative scrutiny and into this Session. The strength of these reforms owes much to his hard work and effort over many years. I hope he is proud of his key role in this legislation—I know he will be shocked to know that I have mentioned him today—and I know that my thanks and appreciation are shared by many noble Lords who thank him and wish him well in his retirement.