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Parliamentary Standards Bill

I hope it will be for the convenience of the House, particularly in view of the shortage of time—[Hon. Members: "Whose fault is that?"] I knew that would be said—but as the time is indeed short, for the convenience of the House I shall deal with the recommendation to the House that we accept all the Lords amendments, and why, and also respond as quickly as I can to the points made by the hon. Member for Stone (Mr. Cash). Reference has been made to the improvements to the Bill. All three party leaders agreed—I say to the hon. Member for Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. Field) —that we should make proposals for a parliamentary standards authority. We had to do so from a standing start—