---

Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill

My Lords, we have had this debate numerous times now, so the House will be delighted to know that I can keep my response fairly brief. I have responded to all the points made previously because noble Lords have repeated many of the points that they made in earlier debates.

Interestingly, the one person who did not repeat the points that he made in earlier debates was the noble Lord, Lord Fox; I was surprised to hear him say that he will support the Anderson/Hope amendment because, in the previous round, in response to a similar point about endless ping-pong made by my noble friend Lord Hamilton, the noble Lord, Lord Fox, said:

“I respectfully suggest that we are not proposing”

endless ping-pong but that

“we are proposing one more ping and one more pong”.—[Official Report, 6/6/23; col. 1262.]

Unlike some of the sceptics behind me, I have faith in what the Liberal Democrats say. I am absolutely certain that, because that is what the noble Lord, Lord Fox, said last time, he will join us in the Lobby this evening. We have hope yet; I am sure that the Liberal Democrats would not want to go back on their word.

4 pm

On Amendment 42C, while I respect the noble and learned Lord, Lord Hope, on this point, I think he is pushing his luck slightly now, if I may say so, respectfully. I think he knows this is adding unacceptable time into the debate, and the Government cannot accept a procedure as unwieldy as what he has proposed. It would also cut the amount of time for the powers to be used by up to a third, which is an unacceptable limitation on the reform programme. I think the noble and learned

Lord knows this is not about additional parliamentary scrutiny; this is actually about stopping Parliament acting in this area. The reform programme is a crucial part of the Government’s agenda, and it is not an appropriate balance between scrutiny and reform to restrict it in such a manner.

Turning to Amendment 15C, I will repeat the arguments that I have made previously and that the House of Commons has supported. The noble Lord’s Motion proposes to insert additional measures into the Bill on environmental protection. I do appreciate the sentiment, but the noble Lord also knows very well the Government’s position on this and the importance we attach to maintaining environmental standards. We do not believe that this amendment is necessary, and in light of the many commitments we have made in this House and the other place, I hope noble Lords will reject both.