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Cluster Munitions (Prohibitions) Bill [Lords]

But I am sure that the Minister will appreciate my point that a very simple manuscript amendment could be tabled on Report if necessary and desirable—to use the language of the Bill. We in this House have the right to insist on being able to table such amendments at this time. Just as the Secretary of State will be able to decide what is necessary and desirable, so this House can make a decision about tabling amendments on Report using exactly the same criteria. It would, however, be open to the Minister to agree—without making concessions or climbing down—that the complexity that has emerged in the course of the debate, and the effect on the individuals who will be subjected to it, could easily be remedied by combining in the clause a further provision. In subsection (1), after the words""The Secretary of State may by order"," we could insert the words "with the advice of the Attorney-General", before the phrase""made by statutory instrument"." In other words, we could include in the process the Attorney-General, whose consent would be required in relation to the provisions of the Bill itself. By including a reference to the Attorney-General in this clause, we would ensure that the complexity of the amendments that the Minister seems to accept will arise would be dealt with, because the Attorney-General would be part and parcel of the Secretary of State's consideration of the amendments and modifications. Does the Minister not agree that that is a reasonable proposition?