Fraud Bill [HL]

My Lords, we return to a topic which we have debated at some length, most recently—albeit some time ago—on 19 July 2005. The essential argument against prospective repeal is that we do not yet have a clear picture of whether repeal is possible and, if so, whether ancillary changes to the law are needed. Let me just make good that latter point; the noble Lord, Lord Kingsland, who has recently spoken, said, if I may paraphrase, that the Law Commission took the view that there was nothing that could not be prosecuted under the new offences that could not be prosecuted under conspiracy to defraud. The noble Lord shakes his head; rightly, if I misunderstood him, as that is not what the Law Commission said. It recognised that the new offences would not cover everything for which conspiracy to defraud could be used. I give way to the noble Lord.