Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) Bill [HL]

My Lords, again the Minister tells us that detailed arrangements will be published shortly. I hope that before we are finished with this he will be able to give us a better idea of what "shortly" means. He will know that I have some experience of using similar words. I remember that once we made an announcement that we would publish something "later in the spring", and I confess that we stretched things a bit by considering July to be the spring. Governments have a way of saying that they will "publish shortly". We have taken a long time over this. We have had the Statement, which looked as though it was a full and final statement, other than that the responses to the consultation would be added, but obviously it is not. Until we get that final statement, it is difficult to know what to do with a Bill of this sort. I also notice that the Minister said that the Government at this moment are actively considering Lord Justice Jackson’s report. That is right and proper because the report has only recently come out, but at some point we will all need to consider it and debate it in this House. Whether that will be this side of a general election or the other is another matter. I suspect that the cost of the consideration needed for that report means that we will have to come to that after the election. For the moment I will withdraw the amendment. I might want to consider coming back to this group on Report, but at this stage it is probably best if I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 9 withdrawn. Amendment 10 not moved. Clause 2 agreed. Amendments 11 and 12 not moved. Amendment 13 Moved by