Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill

In the 28 or 29 years that I have been in this House, this is the first time that I have ever had the support of the noble Lord, Lord Wedderburn, on any amendment to which I have spoken. With that happy agreement, it is a probably a good amendment on which to end on a Thursday night. I am sorry that we could not have the same degree of agreement from the Minister. He said that the holding company could be covered if it had grossly breached the duty of care. I refer him to the points made by the noble Lord, Lord Brennan, particularly the first point about the ability to pay and the third point about penalties. His second point referred to a holding company refusing funds to pay for something to do with safety; the Minister said that it could be covered if it had grossly breached its duty of care. As I have said, it is late on a Thursday. I have achieved the great thing of getting the support of the noble Lords, Lord Wedderburn and Lord Brennan. We shall certainly want to come back to this on Report when we have carefully studied what the Minister has had to say. With that brief warning, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. [Amendment No. 20 not moved.] Schedule 1 [List of government departments etc]: [Amendment No. 21 not moved.] Schedule 1 agreed to.