Commons Bill [HL]

My Lords, it is ironic that we should end this Bill on a point of honestly stated disagreement, bearing in mind how hard we have striven to find sensible consensus around the House on its provisions. My noble friend and I are very grateful indeed for all the kind remarks that have been made around the House both to us and to our officials. I, too, think that the Bill has improved dramatically since it first came to this House, and that is in large measure due to the interest and the opinions expressed by the opposition parties and by noble Lords from the Cross Benches. I am sure that the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, is right that the Bill does leave the House in a much better frame than it would have done had it not been amended and agreed accordingly. I am sorry that we cannot agree with the noble Lord, Lord Greaves, on his amendment; I have already expressed why we cannot. On that note, I thank everyone who has taken part in the Bill in this House. [Amendment No. 38, as an amendment to Amendment No. 37, not moved.] On Question, Amendment No. 37 agreed to.