Member

As my noble friend said, the US court cases have changed the evidence and the conversation. There is a simple way forward for the Government to resolve this impasse, which is to accept the principles that underpin my noble friend’s amendment. They may choose to use different words, but the principles should remain. The Minister talked about action that is not just swift but appropriate. However, the government amendment still allows for inaction; it would still allow the Government to do nothing at the end of this. My noble friend’s amendment does not leave that option. That is not an option that Ministers say they want. I think they should close that loophole when, as I hope, we come back to this at a future point.