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Employment Bill [HL]

My noble friend Lord Campbell of Alloway sought some clarification, particularly from me on the position of the Official Opposition. As my noble friend made clear, I have asserted that it would be possible for us not to do anything. I am now strongly advised by both the noble Lords, Lord Lester of Herne Hill and Lord Wedderburn, that we do have to do something. The noble Lord, Lord Lester, quoted the appropriate clause of the convention. If that is the case, and we have to do something, I say to my noble friend that it would obviously not be possible to simply strike out Clause 17 as he suggested. I originally said that we would be sympathetic to that. Failing that, we would then want to go down another route, in effect looking at what the Government offered in option A and option B and possibly heading towards option B which, in my understanding, is something closer to what the noble Lord, Lord Lester of Herne Hill, is pursuing. I make it clear that we seek a tighter reworking of Clause 17. We do not believe that we should go beyond what the judgment asked for. I offer some further clarification to the Government by saying that it is quite clear that there will be many of us on all sides of the House who will be seeking some further reworking of Clause 17 on Report. Therefore, it probably behoves them to come up with something as well to see whether they can in due course meet us somewhere nearer to where me, my noble friend and the noble Lord, Lord Lester, are.