Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

We have gone on for more than an hour and I thank all noble Lords who have spoken. In the debate on a previous amendment, I quoted the Benefit of Clergy and the general confession. On this amendment, we will move from the Book of Common Prayer to the King James Bible, which says something about there being no joy in heaven greater than that of a sinner that repenteth. I thank the Minister; it is a bit unkind to put him in the position of a sinner—perhaps he is a minor misdemeanourer. He has said that he will take the amendment away, for which I am extremely grateful. When I give speeches to schools, I always start by saying, ““The youth of today show no respect for their elders. They have no manners and they are idle and feckless””. One watches the faces becoming angry. One then says, ““Don’t worry, that was written on clay tablets in Sumeria 2,500 years ago””. We must not, at our advanced age, think that the youth of today are any worse or better than we were. I wince with embarrassment when I think of some of the things that I and my friends did as children, or even slightly older—actually, yesterday, now I come to think of it. Having said that, I really am pleased that the Minister will take this away. I have not bounced this by the noble Baronesses, Lady Linklater and Lady Stern, but before he brings it back, perhaps we could see him and decide whether we can have an input. I am pleased that the noble Baronesses are acknowledging this. I was very impressed by the comments of the noble Lord, Lord Ramsbotham, about targets. I do not think that that is totally germane to the amendment, but it is germane to what is going on behind it. That is something for policy rather than amendment—I do not quite see how it could be worked into an amendment. I thank the Minister for what he has said and I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.