Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill

I am very grateful to the Minister. I will of course withdraw the amendment. I am very grateful to the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, for his support, as I am to the noble Lord, Lord Bach, for his. It would indeed be churlish of me not to understand and accept the indications given by the Minister in respect of the amendment, which is plainly receiving far warmer consideration than some of the other amendments that we have discussed. I have to say that I cannot understand what further consideration is necessary in relation to an amendment of this sort in the light of the factors to which this debate has drawn attention, but on the understanding that this matter is receiving proper attention, in the hope that the Government will be able to bring forward an amendment in appropriate terms on Report and in thanking the Minister, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment. Amendment 171A withdrawn. Clause 59 : Costs in criminal cases Clause 59 : Costs in criminal cases Amendment 172 had been withdrawn from the Marshalled List. Clause 59 agreed. Schedules 7 and 8 agreed. Clause 60 agreed. Clause 61 : Duty to give reasons for and to explain effect of sentence Amendment 172A Clause 61 : Duty to give reasons for and to explain effect of sentence Amendment 172A Moved by