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

I apologise for delaying my right hon. Friend’s probing, and I intervene as one who is not a lawyer, eminent or otherwise. I suspect that the Government’s response will be that part of their rationale was today’s statement on Afghanistan. They felt that they must constrain the House’s time in some way. Even if we allow what I believe may be the Government’s justification, however, and given that both Front Benchers and Back Benchers have described the Bill as a relatively non-controversial measure, should this not have been one of those cases in which the business is allowed to find its own level?