Lord Banner (Con)

I thank the Minister for his comments, and indeed all speakers. The force of the unanimity on this issue across the Committee is telling. I hope it is the beginning of the momentum that my noble and learned friend Lord Garnier called for. With respect to a couple of points the Minister mentioned, the proposal would not distract from the existing law because it applies only to relevant offences, which are defined in the amendment as, essentially, sanctions and money laundering. The option of a public interest compensation order would not be available for the dodgy builder-type case that I outlined before. It would not, in fact, distract from direct victims but, in precisely those kinds of offences where the existing law is inapt, it would provide for a remedy for victims. It is true that this category is relatively narrowly defined, but it is precisely that category of offences where the law is currently deficient. I therefore urge the Minister and officials to give this further consideration. If he is not sick of meeting me on Ukraine-related matters, I am very happy to meet him again to talk through how the wording could perhaps be tweaked to deal with some of the issues he has outlined. If we cannot reach agreement, I would be inclined to bring this back on Report, and/or in the context of the Victims and Courts Bill, as my noble friend mentioned. Against all that background, for now, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.