Criminal Justice and Immigration Bill

I may have unworthily suggested that on an earlier amendment, but not in relation to this one. I hope the Minister will accept that there is a fair amount of experience in this Committee in all sorts of fields. Certainly if our collective experience was put together, it might possibly exceed the experience of those who are advising him that this should be taken forward. I venture to say that it would exceed the experience of those who debated this matter in another place—if they did debate it. I hope the Minister will take the matter away and think about it before Report. There is a consensus in the House. Obviously we will come back to it and he will have to make a decision at that point. For the moment, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment, by leave, withdrawn. Schedule 18 [Alternatives to prosecution for persons under 18]: