Constitutional Reform (Prerogative Powers and Civil Service etc.) Bill [HL]

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Rooker, for keeping me out of grave breach of a constitutional convention. I beg to move that this Bill be now read a second time. It is designed to strengthen our system of parliamentary democracy by making the Executive more accountable to Parliament. I am grateful that so many noble Lords of such great experience and authority will participate in this debate. With no disrespect to the noble Lord, Lord Bassam of Brighton, one might have hoped that the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs would have made himself available to add his own unique authority to the proceedings. Several noble Lords have expressed regret at not being able to be here, including the noble Lords, Lord Armstrong of Ilminster, Lord Butler of Brockwell, Lord Carter and Lord Brennan. I know that the noble Lords, Lord Armstrong and Lord Butler, are particularly supportive of the parts of the Bill dealing with the Civil Service. Perhaps I may also thank Kate Beattie, my parliamentary legal officer, who drafted the Explanatory Notes, which will make the position clear to those who find that the drafting does not do that itself. The Bill places under parliamentary authority the executive powers—