In responding to the Minister, I begin by thanking everybody who has participated. We had an excellent debate, drawn from a lot of experience and expertise. It really has been very good indeed, and I am very grateful to everybody who has contributed. However, I am sure that the Minister will not be surprised to learn that I do not accept very much of what he has got to say. I still think that Clause 61 should not become law. I cannot understand why he says that it will help good employers. A good employer is helped by the existing legislation, and if the Government are concerned to improve health and safety at work arrangements, then they should be supporting the Health and Safety Executive instead of diminishing its resources. If they think they need to do more on health and safety, the HSE is highly respected and ought to have more resources, rather than fewer—which is what the Government’s present policy seems to be.
I really do not accept a great deal of what the Minister has said today. I cannot understand why he is going on about compensation culture. I have made some contributions about my experience in that situation when I worked for an insurance company. We have been talking about claims by employees which often take years to settle, particularly if it is a death; frankly, what sort of compensation culture is that? There is a case for looking at aspects of our legislation, but certainly not via this clause, which takes away some of the support that people currently have in the area of health and safety at work.
I am not at all in favour of what the Minister has said. Of course, in Committee we do not have votes. However, I can assure the Minister that this will be back again at Report, because a number of us feel very strongly about it. I certainly do and I am sure that my noble friends do as well. He has not heard the last of this. In the mean time, I do not press this question.