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Counter-Terrorism Bill

My Lords, I underline what the noble Lord, Lord Goodhart, said as chairman of the Delegated Powers Committee. These are quite complex amendments; I find them extremely complex to read, as they relate to the area that I normally do not think about at all—finance. However, they are an important proposed addition to the Bill and no one is objecting to them. The noble Lord, Lord Goodhart, pointed out that not only does the House have to consider the amendments at short notice but the Delegated Powers Committee has to, too; it is meeting tomorrow. Having been a member of that committee, I know that quite often there are emergency meetings—they have to happen—and that the committee attempts to respond to emergencies. However, from what we have been told, this is a somewhat unnecessary emergency. It could be that the Delegated Powers Committee could make a mistake because of speed. I do not suggest that it will—I am sure that it will not—but it could. The Government should not move the amendments today but should wait until Third Reading so that the House can consider what the Delegated Powers Committee says. The order-making powers in the amendments are important and this simply must not be done wrong. That may sound a silly suggestion to the Minister but I do not think that it is; the Government would do well to wait and move the amendments at Third Reading, when the House could consider the whole thing properly.