European Parliament (House of Lords Disqualification) Regulations 2008

My Lords, I am interested to hear that. There is one precedent. I think I am right in saying that the late Lord Cockfield was also a commissioner and a Member of this House. I confess that I cannot remember whether he took Leave of Absence or not. If the noble Baroness has decided to, and the late Lord Cockfield did likewise, that is entirely appropriate. However, there are a few ““i””s undotted and ““t””s uncrossed in these regulations. The Government will presumably in due course produce a response to the Merits Committee, which has, as I say, been so scathing. They will no doubt have to consider carefully in preparing their response to that criticism. It is perhaps a little unfortunate that that careful consideration did not come before the regulations were placed rather than afterwards, but the Minister will no doubt explain that. In the mean time, I beg to move. Moved, That a Humble Address be presented to Her Majesty praying that the Regulations, laid before the House of 24 June, be annulled (SI 2008/1647). 24th Report from the Merits Committee—(Lord Trefgarne.)