Compensation Bill [Lords]

Of course we welcome the new clause and amendments. However, how would the Minister respond to a letter that I have received from the solicitor who acted for the Department of Trade and Industry when it instigated the litigation that resulted in the House of Lords decision in Barker v. Corus? The solicitor writes:"““It appears that the same government for which I was acting in what was then considered to be in the public interest has now apparently decided, following a clamour of protest, to legislate to reverse the decision which it itself sought.””" Will the hon. Lady explain which Minister decided to take the case of Barker v. Corus forward? How much did it cost, and why have the Government got into this mess?