Employment Bill [HL]

The noble Lord is very kind, and I promise to send him a much more extensive reading list than I mentioned today. Reading lists of people who have experience are worth while. I must tell the Committee that the arguments put forward today are very close to directing ACAS to engage in mediation when its experience since 1896 suggests that that is not the best method. ACAS is independent; it is not subject to direction, and its independence is something that your Lordships ought to be very careful not to infringe.