Clause 19 - The five requirements
Criminal Justice Bill
11:15 am
Ms Harriet Harman (Solicitor General, Law Officers' Department; Camberwell and Peckham, Labour)
I am grateful to have the opportunity to assure the Committee that a suspect, under section 58 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984, will have had access to legal advice. That is very important.
Furthermore, I welcome the hon. Gentleman's suggestion that he regards the Bill's charging provisions as important. Many people believe that the charging changes are the most important changes in practice. I will continue to give him and his colleagues as much information about it as I can. I hope that we will find another opportunity to debate this, perhaps on Report or in the other place. It is entirely new; it is a big and, I hope, a beneficial change. I, too, regret that I am unable to debate the charging changes.
Yes, it must be a free admission, but I do not think that we need to add ''freely'' as suggested in amendment No. 143. It is implicit; if it was not free it would be wrong. As for amendment No. 126, there must be an option for legal advice. If—
It being twenty-five minutes past Eleven o'clock, The Chairman proceeded to put forthwith the Question already proposed from the Chair.
Amendment negatived.
The Chairman then proceeded to put forthwith the Questions necessary to dispose of the business to be concluded at that time.
Clauses 19 to 23 ordered to stand part of the Bill.