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Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill

The hon. Gentleman proves my point. I should like to turn to some of the other comments made towards the end of our debate. The hon. Member for Perth and North Perthshire (Pete Wishart) mentioned the Scotland Act 1998. The Bill would have the same relationship to that Act as to the Regulatory Reform Act 2001, in the sense that consequential provisions could be made, as set out in clause 8. The right hon. and learned Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) asked about tax. The answer is that orders could be used to reduce tax if that met the purpose of removing burdens and other provisions in the Bill. In reality, however, there is a Budget and a Finance Bill every year, and that is how we deal with tax measures in this House. I hope that that makes the matter clear.