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Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill

My Lords, I have listened carefully to the Minister but his opening remarks remain in the back of my mind—that IPP was something akin to a train crash. The victims of that train crash have been left in the wreckage for an indeterminate time before these issues will be sorted out. Of course, there has to be reference to the Parole Board and it may not be appropriate for some to come out. Surely, when the Government themselves have recognised that the system is not fit for purpose for the future, to continue it for those who are incarcerated without any indication of a timescale is doing them and the whole system a grave disservice. I accept entirely that my amendment has faults and that there may be a version that meets the theme that I suspect is accepted on all sides of the Committee that further work needs to be done by the Government on this. I very much hope that between now and Report the Minister will seriously consider how the Government can respond to the pressure that has come from so many sides, with many different suggestions for relieving the problem. I hope that they will consider this, and that an amendment will be tabled on Report so that their mind is focused on the issue and we do not allow the people who listened to the debate in this House to have all their hopes snuffed out by the response of the Front Bench. On that basis, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 179 withdrawn. Amendments 179ZA and 179ZB not moved. Clause 114 : Life sentence for second listed offence Clause 114 : Life sentence for second listed offence Debate on whether Clause 114 should stand part of the Bill.