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Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

My Lords, that is the most extraordinary statement I can ever remember hearing. Here is an attempt to codify the common law and we have an admission by the Minister that he is not going to do it in its entirety. He will codify only a major part of the law of self defence, but will leave other aspects, such as the defence of property, the defence of others and the position of the military, and simply rely on the main thrust. If, before the legislation is passed, the public are confused about the law of defence, how much more confused will they be when it has been passed? As the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss, said, how will the judges cope with this? This matter will exercise the Court of Appeal for a very long time. There is only one thing to do with this clause: throw it out now. I urge your Lordships to do that. I seek to test the opinion of the House. On Question, Whether the said amendment (No. 92) shall be agreed to? Their Lordships divided: Contents, 98; Not-Contents, 125. [Amendment No. 92A not moved.]