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Criminal Defence Service Bill [HL]

I shall withdraw my amendment because I am compelled to do so by the procedure of the Moses Room. I am partially heartened by what the Minister said. I would prefer this matter to go on the face of the Bill as primary legislation because I think it is constitutionally correct and because to some extent it gives us the opportunity to amend. The great difficulty about delegated legislation is that we are faced with a straightforward ““Yes”” or ““No”” decision with constitutional convention powerfully directing us   to say ““Yes””, rather than ““No””. Having at least a flavour of what the Government are intending on the face of the Bill gives us a little scope that would not otherwise exist. That is not intended to put the Minister on notice that we would be difficult over it as a matter of form; it is just in case she was about to do something that we thought would be unwise. In principle we accept that there should be a corresponding set of rules for the Crown Court. For us, the only question is that those rules should properly follow the kind of principles that have emerged from the debate this afternoon. I beg leave to withdrawn the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 2 agreed to. [Amendment No. 11 not moved.] Remaining clauses agreed to. Title agreed. Bill reported without amendment.