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Civil Contingencies Act 2004 (Amendment of List of Responders) Order 2005

My Lords, on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Benches, I echo the words of the Minister in paying tribute to the emergency services, which performed in a way which impressed the rest of the world. Clearly, they helped a large number of people who needed help. I am afraid that I cannot guarantee that I will deal with these matters in future, alongside the Minister and the noble Baroness, Lady Wilcox. This evening, all my colleagues are at a celebration. I am left as the duty odd-job man, which is a role that I have performed in the past and no doubt will perform in the future. Therefore, I have the duty to respond on behalf of these Benches to something about which I do not know very much. I do not apologise for that because I pay tribute to the work that my noble friend Lord Roper did for our party as Chief Whip, which is the celebration quite rightly taking place today. However, I have taken due advice from my noble friend Lord Garden who knows more about these matters than I do. He assures me that, within the context of the Act, this is a sensible measure. I am therefore given leave to nod it through the House on behalf of our Benches, and I so do.