Clause 3
Crime (International Co-operation) Bill [Lords]
11:00 am
Mr James Paice (South East Cambridgeshire, Conservative)
French is not the necessarily the first language for the majority, but I think that the majority speak it. However, I also suspect that a significant number will not necessarily understand legal documentation in French. For them, Flemish would be ''the'' appropriate language, but some might argue that French would be ''an'' appropriate language.
Similarly, in parts of Spain, Catalan or Basque, and not Spanish, may be the appropriate language. If we are attempting to ensure that the person receiving the notice understands everything in it, we must be doubly certain that it is the most appropriate language for that individual, rather than for people who live in the area. It is conceivable that such a person will not be a national of the country and will not understand that country's languages. He or she may be British and not understand English. [Interruption.] That is not necessarily a humorous remark. Many British citizens' command of English is inadequate for the judicial process.
Amendment No. 11 is a variation on the same problem. It would leave in the phrase ''an appropriate language'', but add the words
''if different, a language that he has reason to believe the person on whom the process is to be served understands''.
It is another belt-and-braces approach. We want to make sure that whoever who is in receipt of process from a British court understands it. I hope that the Minister accepts that the objectives behind the amendments are clear. They would improve the clause and ensure that the judicial process of the British courts is carried to its completion and that the obstacle of not understanding the process is properly removed from it.