Serious Crime Bill [HL]

I shall not answer the question because I think the noble Lord, Lord Thomas, tests me. He is a fine lawyer, and he would not want to mislead the Committee. He knows that what he says is not right. I shall see whether he will agree with me when I remind the Committee that it is not possible to place someone under house arrest because, as he knows only too well, to do so would always be disproportionate because it would breach Article 5 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Having said that—which I hope he will agree with—I hope that we can desist from conversations about house arrest. Our joke is now well and truly put to rest.