Clause 27 - Information
Proceeds of Crime Bill
6:00 pm
Mr Dominic Grieve (Beaconsfield, Conservative)
I am slightly disappointed by the Minister's response because the Committee has a duty to try to achieve clarity, notwithstanding that this is a complex legal document. It is difficult to achieve clarity in clause 27. Subsection (2)(d) states:
``section 19 applies as it applies in the circumstances mentioned in section 19(1).''
However, clause 19(1) refers the reader to the provisions of clause 6, so why does the clause not cross-reference directly to the relevant provisions of clause 6? That simplification could be made without setting out in full the provisions of clause 6(3)(a) and (b). It is undesirable to send the reader off on a trail through the legislation, if it can be avoided.
I am not trying to score a cheap point against the draftsman. I never cease to be amazed at the quality of draftsmanship. Having seen drafting being done, and from my experience during the previous Parliament when I sat on the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments, I am aware that drafting is a complex and difficult task that takes a great deal of training. Some people clearly enjoy the task, for which we should be grateful, and it requires a certain turn of mind to do it well. That is not a reason why we should blindly accept what has been offered; we can improve legislation only by highlighting areas where we think there might be difficulty and suggesting improvements. It is as simple as that. I happen to think that this is a particularly bad example—it might be better to described it as a good example—of such a labyrinth becoming excessive.
Subject to that, and with the hope that the Minister might care to discuss the matter with his officials, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 27 ordered to stand part of the Bill.