Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill [HL]

My Lords, before the noble Baroness, Lady Verma, responds to the amendment, I wish to add thanks from this Front Bench to my noble friend Lord Lester for the effort he has made. Five or six years ago, when I first joined the forced marriage working party at the Home Office, it was easy to identify the problem but one had no idea of the solutions. I am delighted that with his help, the help of so many external organisations and the contributions made by the Minister and the Opposition, we are now proceeding. If I am right, it must be a record that a Private Member’s Bill should be taken over by the Government in the other place. Let us hope that before long, it will be on the statute. All those who have participated can take a tremendous pride in trying to solve a very complex social problem.