New clause 3 - Compensation
Civil Contingencies Bill
5:00 pm
Mr Douglas Alexander (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, Cabinet Office; Paisley South, Labour)
After that less than charitable contribution, I shall choose my words carefully. If the whole reach of common law is encapsulated in new clause 3, I can make a suitably lengthy response, because it contains some important points that merit consideration.
The Committee discussed compensation at some length during its sitting on 5 February. To recap briefly the Government's position, they accept that, where it is necessary in an emergency to damage a person's property or otherwise affect their financial position, it will often be appropriate to provide compensation. They also recognise that the availability of compensation will often make it easier in practice to operate emergency powers: people will co-operate more freely.