---

National Insurance Contributions Bill

My Lords, we are not surprised that the Minister gives that reason. What I find surprising is that the authorities in your Lordships’ House allowed amendments to be debated on a subject that was bound to lead to the Commons rejecting them without debate for the reasons given in the Motion before us. I suggest to the Minister and his colleagues that in future, when Bills come before your Lordships’ House that deal with national insurance or any other aspect of taxation, rather more consideration is given to which amendments can be taken by your Lordships’ House. The way that this has been dealt with has wasted the time of your Lordships’ House, that of the Minister and that of noble Lords who took part in what turned out to be a completely futile exercise.