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Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill

One surprising point about Clause 3 is that it was never in the original Bill at all; it was added at Report in the Commons on 15 May. One wonders what the process of thought was that went on in the Department for Constitutional Affairs that suddenly brought this matter forward. There were other major amendments introduced on Report in the other place, but what brought this one forward? The only possible thing that one can imagine was that somebody said that they should get the business on to the agenda of how to legislate for Law Commission reports, so let us put something into the Bill. It may not be right—it may be something that we will have to withdraw. Indeed, the Minister has earned high praise. But it must be a little embarrassing, having put it into the Bill only two months ago, to have to take it out again—like Putney to Mortlake, ““in, out, in, out””. That is the only reason I can think of for it. It was a way in which to get discussions going on an all-party basis on how one could devise a procedure. I share the hopes of my noble friend Lord Norton of Louth that the proposal will produce something that has support in all parts of the House—a procedure whereby the implementation and legislation of Law Commission reports can be speeded up. But there seems precious little to be said for the clause as it stands in the Bill, and I share everybody’s delight that it is being withdrawn. But I have to say again—it is a pretty funny way to legislate!