Racial and Religious Hatred Bill

I can assure my noble friend that we will do all we can to deal with this matter expeditiously, but noble Lords will know that given that this matter has been taken out wholesale in Committee, there are certain difficulties attached to our tabling amendments in a way which would deal with the whole issue. Perhaps I may give an example. I turn to the provision referring to abusive and insulting language. At the moment the Government feel that it would be difficult to see how any new construct could not include those two elements, but that there may be things we can do with other elements which would make their retention more acceptable. But bearing in mind that the Committee has expressed its view by removing the clause in its entirety and substituting it with ““threaten””, it is impossible for me to bring back on Report the whole of the Government’s view. I speak in entirely practical terms. We shall look at the final position as it is when the Bill is returned to the Commons as opposed to here. If we had not voted in Committee, it would have been easier to see how the Government’s case in its entirety could be put on Report. We could then have had a debate on the difference between the construct of the noble Lords, Lord Hunt and Lord Lester, and any new construct which the Government might be able to put together. I say ““might”” because all this needs to be thought about to see whether it is possible. So I cannot assure my noble friend that by Report we shall be able to do all that we would like. All I can say is that we will use our best endeavours to give as clear an indication as we can of the Government’s thinking and the direction of our travel as early as conceivably possible.