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Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill

I shall of course withdraw the amendment today, but I have every intention of bringing it back. The line which the Minister has taken seems highly questionable. It was certainly not taken by the Joint Committee on Human Rights when it proposed that my amendment should be introduced. Indeed, the Government seemed not to assume that that line was correct when they introduced a similar provision into the Civil Contingencies Bill. The fact that orders made under the Civil Contingencies Act would last only a short period while orders made under this Bill could last indefinitely is wholly irrelevant to the issue raised by the amendment. Although the line taken by the Government is perhaps arguable, it is far from certain and should be strengthened and confirmed by the amendment which I moved today and expect to move again at a later stage. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 22 negatived.