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Children and Young Persons Bill [HL]

We should take very seriously indeed anything said about the law by the noble and learned Baroness, and I do so. However, as a Minister, I know that trying to persuade parliamentary counsel to legislate in areas where they are certain what the law is in their view is a Herculean task. The advice that they have given us is that the legal position is not in any way unclear; it is, in fact, very clear. For the reasons I set out in my opening remarks, the factors that led to the decision of your Lordships' House in respect of YL do not apply. That is the view of the Government and of parliamentary counsel. Therefore, I am sure that I shall be told that for us to legislate would be in vain and would not add to existing legislation. However, I undertake to study carefully the noble and learned Baroness’s remarks and to respond further.