---

Statistics and Registration Service Bill

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords who have spoken in this debate—in particular, the noble Lord, Lord Moser, who paid tribute to a number of parties, including the Statistics Commission. I associate myself with those remarks. The Minister referred to the commitments made at the Dispatch Box about the 24-hour period and consultation. We accept the force of those commitments, but that is not the issue. The issue is who should set the rules, and that can be seen most clearly in the wording of the Commons disagreement: "““Because the rules and principles relating to pre-release access are more appropriately provided for by order made by Ministers””." We do not agree with that. We think that it is more appropriate that the independent Statistics Board sets those rules. I wish to test the opinion of the House. On Question, Whether the said Motion (No. C1) shall be agreed to? Their Lordships divided: Contents, 181; Not-Contents, 151. Motion C, as amended, agreed to.