---

Compensation Bill [HL]

I am grateful to the Minister. On Amendment No. 46, we are talking not about the actual results but about the way in which the provisions are drafted. It might even make more sense to say that the Secretary of State may set targets for the regulator to meet, rather than saying that the regulator shall,"““try to meet . . . targets set for him by the Secretary of State””." Slightly wider of that, the examples given by the Minister seem to cover very different situations. When you are issuing targets to a large number of groups, such as local education authorities, schools acting independently of local education authorities, and so on, you can indeed set targets. When you are dealing with a job being done by a particular regulator, it would be simpler to say that if any targets about time for dealing with complaints are imposed, they must be contained in directions. That seems a simpler way in which to do that. What is really happening here is that the words are being duplicated. I am delighted to accept the Minister’s acceptance of Amendment No. 48. As for Amendment No. 46, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendment No. 47 not moved.]