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Bribery Bill [HL]

There is nothing secret about that. A lot of work had gone on behind the scenes to work out clauses that would relate to law enforcement agencies, particularly the police. However, time was against us, the matter went to the Joint Committee and these clauses were not put into the draft Bill that the Joint Committee looked at. I am extremely sorry that that did not happen—it would have been much preferable. I am talking particularly here to the noble Viscount who chaired the Joint Committee so well. That is the reason: there is no secret about it. We were not ready to put such a proposal to the Joint Committee. However, we are ready in the Bill that is before the Committee today.