London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games Bill

There is little for me to say after the excellent advocacy of the noble Lord, Lord Clement-Jones. My amendment is not exactly the same as that of the noble Lord, but it is based on the same thinking. I believe that there is room for a compromise here. I give notice to the Minister—and I think LOGOC knows where I am coming from—that I will not accept, unless the House decides it at Report, that this provision should come into place at the time of Royal Assent. That is fundamentally flawed—there are no justifications and no real reasons for it. Some due space and time is necessary, not only for the advertising industry, which we have talked about all afternoon, but for many people, such as small-time traders, hotels and tourist outlets, which are not regularly in touch with the big advertisers in the big market place, which will be affected by these laws. I refer especially to those in the vicinity of events—down at Weymouth, where the sailing is, for example. There is a huge job—a bigger one than LOGOC and the Government have chosen to think about—in communicating the details of the provision to the small and local businesses, trade associations and so on. There is a lot of work to do there. In this respect, as far as good relations with the industry and with the country are concerned, it would be wise to accept that space is needed; that some give and take is required. Then the Government can put down the mail-fist, supported by LOGOC, and let LOGOC pick-up the flak which will undoubtedly be forthcoming on the back of this arrogant legislation, as it will be seen to be. We on this side of the Committee believe that this needs to be changed and I like to think that we will be able to come to some arrangement which is acceptable to LOGOC, the Government and others before we get to the Report stage. The last thing in the world I wish to do is to go into a Lobby against the Government on any part of the Bill. I believe that commonsense can be applied and sensibilities sorted out, and that we can come to sensible arrangements which are undamaging to LOGOC or any part of the organisation, because no one wishes it more good fortune than I do.