Financial Services and Markets Bill [HL] Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle Portrait Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GP)
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I was speaking for about a minute and a half before the noble Lord interrupted me. I think three minutes might count as short, and I have two short points to make. The first, as I was saying before I was interrupted, is that the noble Baroness, Lady Bi, said that the City—

Lord True Portrait Lord True (Con)
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My Lords, I apologise to the noble Baroness, but I support what was said from the Government Front Bench. This matter was discussed again in our Procedure Committee this morning: arguments that have been put are understood by a committee or by the House, and there is often merit in moving on relatively quickly, so, from the Opposition Front Bench, I support what was said.

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle Portrait Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (GP)
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I note the noble Lord’s contribution. As I said, I would have finished by now had I not been interrupted multiple times. The simple point I want to make is that the noble Baroness, Lady Bi, said that the City engages constructively with regulators. She also said that it uses its convening power to promote the sector. I would argue that, put together, those two things make the case for this amendment.

However, I was going to be brief; I would otherwise have finished a minute ago. We have had an interesting discussion. I will think about where this might go on Report but, in the meantime, I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.