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Justice and Security (Northern Ireland) Bill

It is helpful to have on the record what the noble and learned Lord has said about the manner in which he approached the task of issuing the guidelines that are relevant here and their relationship to the existing guidelines in England and Wales. This may be another matter on which we could have a discussion offline, as on the previous debate on whether Clause 7 should stand part. Presumably when the noble and learned Lord says that the principle of equality of arms means only that the parties should not be at a substantial disadvantage to one another, then in exercising the right to apply this clause the Attorney-General would have regard to the question of how far, if at all, the defendant was disadvantaged by the use of the power. If he felt that there was a substantial disadvantage, it would not be exercised. However, these are matters which it will be useful to discuss with my noble friend when he reads what has been said this afternoon. For the time being, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 12 agreed to. Clause 13 agreed to. Clause 14 [Investigations: evidence]: