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Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

My Lords, I am sure that the first thing we will want to do is to read in Hansard tomorrow what the Minister said. That may shed some light on it. The mere fact that he has to offer to write to us shows that this is the sort of clause that should not be in legislation. It is intended to cover the appearance of injustice in only one case—the Sweeney case, to which the noble Lord, Lord Thomas of Gresford, referred—where there was no injustice at all because the judge did exactly what Parliament said he must do. It therefore illustrates both aspects of my argument. It is a marvellous example of Parliament interfering where it is not wanted. Parliament is now asked to give judges greater discretion, but the discretion should not have been removed in the first place. It is a very good example of Parliament interfering in such a way as to make the judges’ task even more difficult than it already is. I hope that the clause will be considered for a second time in the Ministry of Justice. I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.