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Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

My Lords, the noble and learned Lord, Lord Lloyd of Berwick, should not be surprised by the Government’s change of tack on this issue. He should have learnt by now that even if the Government accept the wisdom and substance of an amendment tabled by a member of the Opposition or the Cross Benches, they find it difficult to accept the exact wording. It is in that context, and no other, that one should see what has emerged from the government Benches. As far as the noble and learned Lord’s amendment is concerned, who am I to question something crafted by such a distinguished couple as the noble and learned Lord on one hand and the president of the Queen’s Bench on the other? I wait with interest to hear the Government’s reasons for wanting something a little more tautly drawn.