Commons Bill [HL]

My Lords, I am grateful to noble Lords who have spoken in this debate on the amendments in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Livsey. The noble Lord has tabled a number of amendments to our proposed schedule set out in government Amendment No. 28. I shall deal with the amendments in three groups. Before doing so, I thank noble Lords, particularly the noble Earl, Lord Peel, for his very kind remarks about the compromise that has been achieved and for his praise for the officials behind the Bill. It is not very often in this House or, dare I say, in another place that departmental officials get the praise they deserve. As regards this Bill, they have led Ministers down a path of compromise, which has been appropriate. Particularly on this vexed subject of severance they have played a great part in effecting compromise.