§ 10.9 p.m.
§ Lord PestonMy Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper. It falls to me only to thank noble Lords for taking part in the 1144 debate, which I, at least, have found extremely interesting. In particular, I thank my noble friend Lord McIntosh. I was not threatening him, although, as he knows, I am quite capable of doing so; I was simply reminding him of the job that I thought he was going to do. Perhaps I may say to him that I believed he did exactly the job that I wanted him to do. What I cannot understand is the whole rigmarole of the difficulties that the Treasury has in replying to our committee. As my noble friend mostly did that, he could have done the whole job with no trouble whatever. But, subject to that, I consider that he did an admirable job and I thank him very much.
Moved, That this House takes note of the report of the Select Committee on Economic Affairs on the Finance Bill 2003 (3rd Report, HL Paper 121).— (Lord Peston.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.