Clause 25 - Duration
Civil Contingencies Bill
3:30 pm
Mr Oliver Heald (North East Hertfordshire, Conservative)
I entirely accept that. We all have some experience of emergencies, if not necessarily of that kind. When there is a need, Parliament can act relatively quickly and 90 days is more than adequate for that purpose. It is incumbent on the Minister to explain why he wants more time.
Many concerns have been expressed about the Bill and the wide-ranging nature of the powers that the Government are taking. We are not used to emergency powers. We do not have bush fires lasting for 100 days or repeat earthquakes, and our floods do not last for hundreds of days. The Minister needs to come up with something major to justify more.