---

Flood and Water Management Bill

I will respond briefly—I do not want to waste too much time on this. Historically, the House of Lords has voted down statutory instruments. Our clear view is that if the House is not prepared to do that in exceptional cases and very occasionally, there is no point in having them, because it is the ability to vote down statutory instruments that makes the Government look carefully at them to make sure that they are not undesirable. I am tempted to say that all that the noble Lord has proved is that the Tories here are wimps, but perhaps that is too provocative.