Derek McDowell (Labour)

I would like to be associated with the words of thanks offered to the Minister of State and his officials. In a sense, those of us on this side of the House made his job unusually easy in fighting ourselves to a draw and in allowing the Minister of State to say that he had considered both sides, while not actually accepting anything that either of us said. Nonetheless, that is the way of these things. It is unusual for a Bill of this kind to come into the House without the prior sanction of the social partners. It is a pity that such is the case. On the other hand, issues which may not have got a airing have been aired here. I suspect that this is not the last we will see of this Bill and that the Minister of State may be back before us in a few months time. I wish him well during the passage of the Bill through the other House.