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Fraud (Trials without a Jury) Bill

Let me just correct the hon. Gentleman. Exactly the same points were made in Committee, as he knows. In defence of my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Blunkett), what he actually said is:"““I am prepared to give that undertaking. It is part of the agreement that we will retain the clause, but move forward towards looking””—" as was said in Committee, the important word is ““looking””—"““at the alternative solutions that I have mentioned””.—[Official Report, 20 November 2003; Vol. 413, c. 1028.]" We did indeed look long and hard at those solutions, as the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey knows, but it was clear that no consensus was forthcoming. An order came before the House, which was supported by a significant majority. It was quite clear that Members of the Opposition in the other place would not support it, so my noble Friend the Attorney-General made it absolutely clear that we would move on to introduce fresh legislation.