Mesothelioma Bill [HL]

Lord Geddes Excerpts

Monday 10th June 2013 Grand Committee

[Lord Wigley]

My Lords—

[The Deputy Chairman of Committees (Lord Geddes)]

If the noble Lord will curb his enthusiasm for just a moment, the amendment proposed states:

“Page 4, line 11, after ‘may’ insert ‘, subject to the consent of the Secretary of State,’”.

[Lord Wigley]

I am grateful for being curbed. I support the amendment. It will lead on to Amendment 32, which also addresses these issues, so I may come back to them at a later stage. It is immensely important that this body is seen and respected by those outside the industry as being at the very least impartial with regard to the way things will be conducted. It must have the confidence of the beneficiaries, their families and everyone else involved. This amendment, together with Amendment 32, which we will consider in a moment, needs to be taken on board, if not in this form of words then at least in a form of words that addresses what could be a weakness in the Bill.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Freud]

My Lords, in the interests of time, I thought I might pre-empt the noble Lord on this, although I think that he must move the amendment first.

[The Deputy Speaker]

The noble Lord, Lord McKenzie, must beg to move the amendment, and I will then put the question. If that is in order, the noble Lord, Lord Freud, can then speak.

[Lord McKenzie of Luton]

I beg to move.