Financial Services Bill

My Lords, when my noble friend replies to this amendment—if he wants to bother—will he be so kind as to explain to the Committee why on earth the Government have decided to put it on the House of Lords Order Paper at all? We all know that there is not a cat in hell’s chance of the Bill getting anywhere near the statute book when the House rises or prorogues shortly after Easter. Will the Minister kindly explain why the usual channels have not at least got together to see if there is a consensus on any parts of the Bill, so that they can go on the statute book? Why is he asking the Committee to bother looking at the Bill, knowing very well that there is no chance whatever of it appearing on the statute book?