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Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Bill [HL]

Not really, my Lords. I imagine that there are more cases that are less deserving of criminal prosecution than those that are deserving of criminal prosecution. That is all that one needs to say on those figures. The greater flexibility that Part 3 provides is beneficial, so long as there are procedural safeguards—that was the point that I was making when the noble and learned Lord intervened. I do not think that the noble and learned Lord referred to them, but they require a notice with reasons of what the breach of the law has been, an opportunity for reply and a review. The regulator may then confirm his original view or not. If he confirms his original view, there is a right of appeal, albeit to an administrative tribunal. I do not bow to the noble and learned Lord in my regard for the magistrates’ courts and the Crown Court, but tribunals are not novel in 2008. There is another anniversary: it is the half-century of the Tribunals and Inquiries Act 1958, which was established following the famous Franks committee, under Sir Oliver Franks, as he was then, to ensure the impartiality, fairness, merit, speed and efficiency of tribunals, which had been questioned. In other words, tribunals have a high reputation, too, and they seem very suitable to be entrusted with the task of dealing with the kind of cases that we are talking about under Part 3 of this Bill.