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Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill

The noble Earl, Lord Mar and Kellie, put his finger on the key to why I raised these points. The noble and learned Lord responded in a very constructive way. These provisions were added in another place on Report in response to points being made in Committee where there was no real opportunity to discuss them. Therefore, we are playing our part in the bicameral system by ensuring that where the other place has not had an opportunity to discuss and hear the Government’s explanation, we should ensure that the explanations go on the record. The noble and learned Lord has explained that the original exemption, in the Government’s view, after debate in Committee, went too far. It has been very helpful to hear the reasoning behind the way in which the Government have now amended the Bill. The noble Lord, Lord Wedderburn, raised two separate points. I am sure he is right, as indeed the noble and learned Lord has explained, that the phrase, "““otherwise than on a commercial basis””," does not apply to bodies that then follow in paragraphs (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i), as I understand it. The noble and learned Lord has explained that. The noble Lord, Lord Wedderburn, is right. In fact, I was not going as far as the noble Lord thought I was. I was merely seeking a more adequate explanation of the way in which Clause 6, on emergencies, is now drafted. The noble Lord, Lord Clinton-Davis, probably guessed that that was the case. I wanted to hear why we now have Clause 6 in its current form. I would welcome the opportunity to consider carefully what the noble and learned Lord has just told us. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdrawn the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.