Commons Bill [HL]

I have always been suspicious of people who know it all. All I can say to my noble friend Lord Greaves is that one never stops learning. But of course he had the benefit of spending many hours considering the CROW Act, which I did not have at the time. I have learnt a great deal. I do not seek in any way to remove rights conferred under previous Acts of Parliament. That is certainly not the purpose behind tabling the amendment. Before I withdraw it, I want to point out that there is in fact a need to define access in the Bill. I have learnt from the remarks just made by both my noble friend and the noble Baroness that such a definition should encapsulate previous legislation. When considering the definitions of what is set out in this Bill, there ought to be a form of words which encompasses in perhaps two sentences all that has been said during the past five minutes or so. I am sure that it is not beyond the wit of legislators to devise it. I am grateful for this useful short debate. Before I withdraw the amendment, I should like to thank the noble Baroness and her colleague, the noble Lord, Lord Bach, for the understanding and constructive way in which they have considered our amendments and come back with improved material during the course of our deliberations in Grand Committee. We look forward to the Report stage. I also thank the Deputy Chairman of Committees and her colleagues for the way in which our business has been conducted. Without further ado, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Clause 55 agreed to. Clauses 56 and 57 agreed to. Bill reported with amendments.