Budget Responsibility and National Audit Bill [HL]

My Lords, far be it from me to wish to cause mischief. I have listened with great interest to the contributions of the noble Lords, Lord Newby and Lord Burns, and of the Minister. The Minister is correct that the wording of my amendment is very wide—wider than the OBR itself. However, I have often found it helpful in life to start wide, listen to the wise comments of others and narrow down. The noble Lord, Lord Newby, suggested that the word ““balance”” was capable of widely differing definitions, which would raise issues of implementation, and that possibly the phrase ““absence of bias”” might be better. I will reflect on that before Report. For the time being, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 28 withdrawn. Clause 4 agreed. Clause 5 : How main duty is to be performed Amendment 29 Clause 5 : How main duty is to be performed Amendment 29 Moved by