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Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill

My Lords, I beg to move that this Bill do now pass. In doing so, I express my grateful thanks to all noble Lords and noble and learned Lords who have taken part not only in our discussions today and at Second Reading but at the meetings held between the Front Benches of the two main parties and with other noble Lords and noble and learned Lords. These have been very constructive discussions. I am extremely grateful to all noble Lords for their co-operation in enabling this emergency legislation to be passed through your Lordships’ House. I reiterate that we take very careful note of all the points that have been raised in our debate and look forward to a constructive engagement with noble Lords over the next few months. I wish that the Ministry of Justice’s budget was sufficient to take us all to New Zealand but, alas, I doubt it. Certainly we will look carefully at what experience we can garner from other countries in order to enhance our debate when the substantive Bill comes to us in the next Session. I conclude by apologising again for the problem identified earlier today of the late notice of government amendments. I very much regret that and hope that, none the less, the House will understand that this has been done under great pressure. The opportunity to consider the Bill in substantive form in the next Session at least provides some reassurance. Moved, That the Bill do now pass.—(Lord Hunt of Kings Heath.) On Question, Bill passed, and returned to the Commons with amendments.