Children and Young Persons Bill [HL]

I am most grateful to the Minister, to the noble Lord, Lord Judd, and to the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss, for their support for the amendment. I am particularly grateful for the clarity and firmness of the Minister’s reassurances. He will be aware of the significance of his statements from the Dispatch Box should such a case come to court. But, like the noble Lord, Lord Judd, and the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss, I very much hope that this situation will not need to be tried in the courts. However, I ask the noble Lord to consider what the noble and learned Baroness, Lady Butler-Sloss, said about the long-windedness of such a case having to be tested in the courts against his statements from the Dispatch Box. It really would be better, albeit it may be duplication, for this matter to be clarified in the Bill. That would be highly desirable because, as the noble Lord, Lord Judd, said, we need to be very clear about what our rights are under the Human Rights Act. If there is any doubt whatever, it would be a very simple matter for the Minister to accept our amendment and clarify the position in the Bill. We shall consider carefully what the noble Lord said, take further advice and consult with each other before Report. In the mean time, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.