Bribery Bill [HL]

I will accept the advice of the Minister but I will remind him that a large number of those who have spoken also have some ministerial experience and, through our addled brains, can remember the difficulties of these matters. Even so, I repeat the fact, as was made clear at Second Reading, that the Government have had this Bill for some 10 to 12 years and so have had a chance to consider these points. Nevertheless, we have had a sort of concession from the Government. When I first listened to the noble Lord, I thought that we were going to get one during the course of this debate, but it amounts to the Government saying, through the Minister, that they will reflect on the issue. We look forward to the Government’s reflections and no doubt a letter will come from the noble Lord in due course. We will look at it and possibly bring forward further amendments at Report stage. I think it is clear to the noble Lord, from what the noble Lord, Lord Goodhart, said in his remarks, that there will be amendments, but it is quite likely that we may either join them or consider that in due course. Perhaps I may also say that we noted the Government’s words—I hope that I am quoting the Minister correctly—that they, ""hope to respond to the Select Committee’s report before Report stage"." I hope that the Government will reconsider the word "hope" and make a firm commitment to respond to the Joint Committee’s report before the Report stage because it is important that we have the Government’s full and considered response before continuing.