Criminal Defence Service Bill [HL]

I am sympathetic with the comments of the noble Lord, Lord Kingsland. It is not an issue on which either I or, I suspect, my colleagues would feel strongly, but we need to sort out the nature of the conventions that cover the distribution of business between the Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs. They are posts that, for the foreseeable future, will be held by the same person but there is a distinction to be drawn. It would be right that   the responsibility for strictly legal matters, including legal aid, should rest with the office of the Lord Chancellor, while responsibility for the wider constitutional operations of the department, including elections and freedom of information, should rest with the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs. It would be a good idea for future legislation to comply with that convention.