Once again, I find that I have a lot of sympathy with the hon. Gentleman. As he has said, the amendment would add representatives of local authorities to the list of persons among whom information can be shared for the purposes specified in the Bill. Local authority representatives typically need information about offenders for whom they are providing housing or to carry out social service department responsibilities—as he has said, there are also other reasons. However, that need differs substantially in terms of the quantity and nature of the data required from the needs of those listed in subsection (2), whose core business is the day-to-day management of offenders.

The intention behind clause 10 is to put beyond doubt for the main parties involved in managing offenders with whom and for what purposes data can be shared. The amendment raises the question whether adding representatives of local authorities to the list would be valuable, or whether it would confuse and distort that intention. The clause includes provision to meet any future need by including additional parties such as local authority officers. Subsection (2)(g) allows the Secretary of State to lay regulations before the House specifying additional persons to be included in the list. It would not be sensible to include other organisations at this stage on the basis that they might need to be included in future.

We recognise the unique position of local authorities and their responsibilities in offender management. In particular, they have the established and important role under the multi-agency public protection arrangements of the proper consideration of housing and the safeguarding of vulnerable groups. That role might make it sensible to include local authorities in the Bill. However, we are concerned that a reference to “representatives of local authorities” would be too vague and that the ambiguity would have unintended and unhelpful consequences. I nevertheless believe that the amendment and the hon. Gentleman’s points merit further consideration. I undertake to reconsider the  matter and to return on Report with a considered view. With that offer, I hope that he will withdraw the amendment.