---

Fraud Bill [HL]

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble and learned Lord the Attorney-General for what he has said. It is useful to get this matter on the record, because we have had a serious debate on it, as I think appropriate for any case in which a recommendation of the Law Commission is not accepted by the Government. For reasons that I find wholly understandable, the matter will now be in effect deferred for some three years, by which time, I hope, evidence will have become available as to whether the retention of this offence is desirable. As I hope I have made clear throughout, my only intention in moving this amendment was to obtain such a statement from the noble and learned Lord. This amendment has now served its purpose, and I therefore beg leave to withdraw it. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.