I rise briefly to probe the Under-Secretary on a couple of matters with regard to this clause. The first echoes the previous debate about the two-year limit. My hon. Friends the Members for Huntingdon and for Cities of London and Westminster have made all the important points about that, and about the real problem that is caused to businesses by such uncertainty hanging over them for up to two years. It appears that that issue does not cut any ice with the Under-Secretary or her hon. Friends, but it remains a concern. At least there is a suggestion of movement in the clause.

Under subsection (2), the Secretary of State has the power to

"alter the period of two years".