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Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill

I cannot let that nice, gentle, complimentary remark from the noble Lord, Lord Bassam, go unanswered. Of course I agree totally with him that regulation should be sensible and to the point. French circus regulations—of which I have some knowledge, for some extraordinary reason—allow tigers to be led round the ring in the Cirque d’Hiver in northern Paris by a lady clad in a tutu; the tiger is on one little spangled dog lead, and the only safety instructions are to ask the children in the front row to sit further back in their seats. Some continental countries seem to have a slightly different view of health and safety regulations than we do, so perhaps there is hope for my noble friend Lord Pearson yet. Of course I agree with the Minister that regulations should be sensible—all of us agree with that, as he has rightly said. However, I am worried, as I think several of my colleagues are, about giving too many powers to Ministers. My Whig blood revolts against that.