Compensation Bill [HL]

I am interested to see that the noble Viscount, Lord Eccles, returns again to his theme of unintended side-effects. I am very concerned that we do all we can to address his concerns. My point on flexibility, above everything, is that, to ensure that we have effective regulation in the areas that have most concerned noble Lords, we need to create a flexible regime; it is not to provide uncertainty. In my view, flexibility is a very different concept from uncertainty. I need to have a further conversation with the noble Viscount to explore a little more the areas of greatest concern to him, either to reassure him or to look at the legislation. I love the arguments surrounding changing ““may”” to ““shall”” and ““shall”” to ““may””. I have spent so much of my life on that and they provide an important series of debates in any piece of legislation. It forces the Government to consider very carefully what we are trying to achieve. I cannot give the noble Lord, Lord Hunt, a proper timetable on regulation tonight, but I shall endeavour to do so very soon. I always desire to give as much information as possible and particularly to bring forward secondary legislation wherever possible to meet noble Lords’ concerns so that they can see what is available. The rigours of Parliamentary Counsel time and the need to deal with the issue as fast as possible do not make it possible for me to do so at the moment. However, I shall return with a proper answer for him.