Clause 11 - Sending freezing orders
Crime (International Co-operation) Bill [Lords]
5:30 pm
Mr Bob Ainsworth (Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Home Office; Coventry North East, Labour)
I will. However, the time limit that the hon. Gentleman asks for is there in clause 11(3), which states:
''The judicial authority is to send the order to the Secretary of State or the Lord Advocate before the end of the period of 14 days beginning with its being made.''
The hon. Member for Surrey Heath does not like mutual recognition—a point recognised by the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome. It is for us to decide in this country what the appropriate authority
is for receiving and making orders of that kind. It is for authorities overseas to take that decision under mutual recognition. We cannot impose terms on them, and we would not expect them to impose terms on us. None the less, I will write to the hon. Member for Surrey Heath, and make him aware of what we envisage in terms of the authorities that will use those powers, so that he can make Eurosceptic capital out of my letter.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 11 ordered to stand part of the Bill.