Member

I am about to touch on an important point: that of the hybridity implications of the Bill. The Minister has already been drawn on this and provided some indication by nodding, which was very helpful. The noble Lord, Lord Bassam of Brighton, and the noble Baronesses, Lady Taylor of Bolton and Lady Grey-Thompson, have tabled Amendment 21. As with my Amendment 19, I think they have similarly been advised that were our amendments to be pushed and become part of the Bill, it would make the Bill a hybrid one. I think the Government have not set out what “English football” is, and which competitions are specified in order to avoid this becoming a hybrid Bill and allowing all those people who will be affected by it to have the rights that they would enjoy if this were a hybrid Bill and they could take part in the debates on it. I would be grateful if the noble Baroness could set that out in a bit more detail than the nod she has helpfully given in the debate. I appreciate that this is a late hour for such an important issue but it is a very important one for our considerations and indeed for all the organisations that will be affected by it.