Clause 26 - Small amount outstanding: discharge of order
Proceeds of Crime Bill
5:45 pm
Mr Mark Field (Cities of London and Westminster, Conservative)
I agree with the hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland, although there was also a lot of merit in the comments of the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North and Leith (Mr. Lazarowicz). The Minister might consider allowing the court greater discretion. In practical terms, as my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield said about the previous discharge of orders and the relatively small amount, if we are directing the measures toward the Mr. Bigs, £50 is absolutely de minimis and one may argue that sums running to thousands of pounds would be small. The logistics of chasing down small remaining moneys may be expensive. Did the Minister give thought to giving a court overriding discretion about very small amounts, perhaps between £50 and £1,000, given the large-scale Mr. Bigs who will come under the purview of the confiscation order?