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Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

My Lords, I am pleased that the noble Baroness has tabled these amendments. I still have difficulty, not just with the concept—there are different views about offences committed in one’s private capacity and so on—but with the words, "““where that conduct would constitute a criminal offence””." In her explanation the Minister tried to take us around in circles. I fear we dropped off one by one, and I was one of the first. I hope she will be able to set all this right today. I have difficulty with part of what the noble Baroness has included; namely, the conduct being, "““directly relevant to the performance of their official functions””. " There is a range of views on this and mine is probably at the tougher end. A councillor’s actions go to reputation. On the previous occasion, the Minister used paedophilia as an example that might well not be directly relevant to the performance of official functions; nevertheless, you do not want a convicted paedophile undertaking some of the functions of a local authority because, as I said, there is an issue of reputation. However, we must be much straighter and clearer than the Bill currently is about what conduct would constitute a criminal offence.