Clause 29 - Hearing witnesses abroad through
Crime (International Co-operation) Bill [Lords]
3:00 pm
Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath, Conservative)
The Minister is introducing the novel concept that because another Committee of the House of Commons does not comment on something, it means that it agrees with it. A silence does not indicate consent or assent, and the Minister should be stern with the officials who wrote that brief because there are many occasions when a Committee does not comment on something. That does not necessarily mean that it agrees with it. If the Delegated Powers and Regulatory Reform Committee had said that it was quite happy with matters, the Minister would be entitled to say that he sees no problem. However, just because it did not mention it at all does not mean that the Minister can assume that the Committee was happy with it.