Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Bill [HL]

It has to be probing in Grand Committee. I accept what the Minister has said, but, in the spirit of being positive about the Bill, I hope that this does not mean we will have to wait a long time for the issuing of guidance for these measures, given that the Minister said that this amendment could perhaps lead to a severe delay in implementation of the Act. From experience of other legislation passing through your Lordships’ House, there is genuine concern that many of the amendments we have raised have illustrated the lack of clarity on some of the detail of the Bill. It is impossible always to have that detail in the Bill, and this is not a criticism of the Bill itself, but there are many aspects for which guidance will be essential for employers and employees really to understand what their rights and responsibilities will be. We are putting a good deal of trust in the Minister and his department that every effort will be made to ensure that the guidance is drafted as quickly, efficiently and fully as possible, so that those put in the position of needing to respond to the law as soon as it is implemented will be able to respond with assurance and with the comfort that they will need to understand some of the deeper and more difficult aspects of this legislation.