Emergency Workers (Obstruction) Bill

Surely any fireman worth his salt, on seeing a patch of heather on fire and noticing that a farmer was attending to it and had it under control, would turn the fire engine round and go back. That would be the common-sense approach of anyone working in the fire service. Having reflected on what the right hon. Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) and the Minister had to say, I think that there is some force in the argument that if one lists certain defences in a Bill, the assumption will be made that the list is exhaustive. I have also reflected further during this short but very constructive debate on the fact that the Bill contains the phrase ““without reasonable excuse””. A good lawyer could bring most of the concerns that I have identified within the scope of those three words, and on that basis I beg to ask leave to withdraw the motion. Motion and clause, by leave, withdrawn.