Lord Wolfson of Tredegar (Con)

My Lords, this is the last group for debate today so I will not speak at length. As the noble Lord, Lord Alton, has just said, there is a large measure of agreement across the Committee on the need for some post-legislative scrutiny. In our meetings with the Minister, he assured us that the Government will review the effectiveness of the legislation post implementation. That is very reassuring. However, a number of the amendments in this group seek a more formal process of review that will give the public and Parliament an opportunity to see what the Government’s own assessment is of the success of the Act. This is a complex and sometimes technical piece of legislation. Therefore, there is a good case for a more formal review process after the passage of the Bill into law. I am not sure whether we ought to bind the Government to bring forward draft legislation in the way proposed by the amendment put down by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hope of Craighead. I hesitate to differ from the noble and learned Lord when he is here, and I hesitate even more to differ when he is not here, even though he was ably represented by the noble Lord, Lord Alton, but I am not sure that binding the Government to bring forward draft legislation is the way forward. I hope that we can work together to find a robust mechanism to allow us to return to look at this legislation, following a proper review, and to give Parliament the opportunity to address any deficiencies. Of course, I will listen carefully to any further indications the Minister may have in this regard.