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Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill

My Lords, as the noble Lord knows, and as has been indicated by the noble Lord, Lord Kingsland, we intend to look at how and when the procedure for special advocates will be dealt with. I intend to deal with that in a little while. Your Lordships will know, for example, that in the case of H and C the court, which included the noble and learned Lords, Lord Bingham and Lord Woolf, said quite specifically that special counsel might exceptionally be appointed in a criminal case. That House of Lords decision was in 2004. There is no need to place special advocates on the face of the Bill but there is an opportunity for the court, if it so desires, to make such a request. It is not the place of emergency legislation to make these provisions. I accept that there are delicate balances to be drawn and we will, in slightly slower time, need to address those issues.