---

Digital Economy Bill [HL]

My Lords, the Minister has used the word "sufficient" in rather a different context, but I am afraid that his reply was insufficient and very much hope that he will reflect on the wording. His response was very much special pleading on behalf of the Bill’s draftsmen. I know that the Government are always reluctant to tamper with the peerless drafting of parliamentary counsel. However, in this case, I think that the Minister will recognise on reflection that he is introducing the rule of thumb into this Bill—he used the expression himself. Either this body is independent, or it is not; "sufficiently independent" allows all sorts of coaches and horses to fly through the door. I feel distinctly nervous about this wording, which I have not seen before in a Bill describing the independence of a body. It would be very difficult for anybody to define "sufficiently" in these circumstances.