---

Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill

I would need more time to think about that, but I am tempted to say that I agree with the hon. Gentleman's second point. On the first point, however, am I supposed to believe the Minister when he says, ““Well, we want this on the face of the Bill, but we are never going to use it.””? That is absolute, utter and complete nonsense. I asked my researcher to make inquiries with the Library and find out on how many occasions the previous Government—of whom I am entirely proud—may have used this provision as a tool. My researcher came back to me to say, ““As far as the Library is concerned, there is no example whatever of a Government building provisions into an Act of Parliament that they never have any intention of using.”” It is complete and utter nonsense to suggest that that is the case.