Clause 39 - Offences
Crime (International Co-operation) Bill [Lords]
10:30 am
Mr Nick Hawkins (Surrey Heath, Conservative)
I hear what the Minister says—we understand that such an offence would be committed only by the institution. The point that the banking unions were making to me and other members of the all-party committee on insurance and financial services is that junior members of staff worry about the burdens on them. I see the Minister nodding, so she understands my point. Pressures are created if junior members of staff know that a mistake that they might make could lead inadvertently to their bank being prosecuted.
I shall not pursue the matter further, although we shall return to it when we discuss other amendments. We have expressed worries on behalf of financial institutions. As the Minister is aware, several matters raised in another place by my noble Friend Viscount Bridgeman were inspired by the British Bankers
Association. It is not as though the Government can say that they are taking the financial institutions with them each step of the way. The institutions are worried that the Bill is too wide in its application and too draconian. However, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
Clause 39 ordered to stand part of the Bill.