Financial Services Bill

I have learned much from this debate, not least from the disclosure by the hon. Member for Henley (John Howell): I had no idea that he and the hon. Member for Chichester (Mr. Tyrie) were outriders for the free market in eastern Europe. Although that free market may have been beneficial overall, there have in those societies been many permanent losers from the new gospel that they have taken to those countries. What disturbs me most about the debate is that I have failed to register in all parts of the House that there was—anyway, but even more so after the banking and economic crisis in this country—disquiet about the fact that people can use shares that are not theirs to force down the price of those stocks and perhaps endanger a company's future; that they can undertake similar activities with the basic things that we need for our everyday lives, such as oil and food; and that somehow those activities will continue. However, my hon. Friend the Minister is right: my proposed change is a probing new clause, and we will have a chance to consider what has been said today before the measure appears in another place. Before I withdraw the new clause, may I state on the record that, until the debate opened, I did not know that my hon. Friend was not standing at the next election? I am sure that it is good news for him—otherwise he would not have made the decision—but it is bad news for the House. I beg to ask leave to withdraw the clause. Clause, by leave, withdrawn.