Derek McDowell (Labour)

I will not comment on the Minister's reflections. He and Senator Mansergh make the case well for those of us proposing the amendment by saying that, while the Bill is drafted in a way that allows a Secretary General to do a particular thing, they would never do it. However, that begs the question of why one would draft the legislation in such a way that would allow a Secretary General to close down information from another Department, if, as the Minister says, he does not expect this to happen.

Amendment put and declared lost.