On February 3 the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill was scrutinised in detail during its Lords Committee stage. Alistair Lexden moved a probing amendment to draw attention to the serious state of affairs which now exists because the Northern Ireland Executive has failed to implement the Defamation Act 2013. As a result, for the first time in history Northern Ireland now has a different libel law to that in England and Wales. Alistair Lexden outlined the damaging consequences when he introduced his amendment - which was later withdrawn without being put to a vote in accordance with practice in the Lords. He also spoke on a number of other amendments.