Criminal Defence Service Bill [Lords] (Programme) (No. 2)

Having seen the Minister’s face during the hon. Gentleman’s remarks, I can only say, ““In your dreams””. I can predict that the Minister will have no intention of withdrawing the motion. The hon. Gentleman—this is very uncharacteristic of him—seeks somehow to blame me for the fact that the House may not have sufficient time in which to consider this important motion. It is the Government’s motion, however, that gives us but three hours in total to consider the Bill. If I, or indeed my hon. Friends, wish to examine the motion in rather more detail, that is surely our right. We are being given only 45 minutes in which to do it. Let me continue my analysis. If we assume that the first hour will be taken up by the debate on the programme motion and the Division which I hope will follow—it will, if it is anything to do with me—and the last hour is taken up by the Third Reading debate, we are left with but one hour in which to consider the two amendments, or more accurately the new clause and amendment. These are not trivial matters. The hon. Member for Leicester, East, who is an eminent legal expert, and the other eminent lawyers who are with me on the Conservative Benches, will doubtless want to bring their analyses to bear, but they will have hardly any opportunity in which to do so. The proposer of an amendment or new clause usually wants to explain it properly to the House. Others will undoubtedly wish to contribute, especially those with legal knowledge and expertise, and we shall wish to hear from them. I cannot imagine that that can happen satisfactorily in the time that we have been allowed.