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Banking Bill

This is nothing whatever to do with the banking industry. The Bill of course affects the banking industry; this is to do with the role of the Executive and their accountability to Parliament and the rule of law. It is a parliamentary matter. I would be amazed if the banking industry had expressed a view on it. It is not about how it will affect the banking industry. We are at one with the Minister in wanting to give the Government the powers to deal with irresponsible banks and the consequence of them, but at issue here is a far more fundamental matter: the accountability of the Executive and of Ministers to Parliament and the role of Ministers in the creation of the law. That is why there is such concern on these Benches and even, I think, on the Liberal Benches.