Clause 6 - Influencing a prosecutor
Justice (Northern Ireland) Bill [Lords]
10:00 am
Mr John Spellar (Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office; Warley, Labour)
We welcome the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve), although we wait eagerly to hear his silent partner, the hon. Member for New
Forest, West (Mr. Swayne) at some stage during our proceedings. We believe that implicit in the word ''decision'' is a decision to institute or continue proceedings or not to do so. The decision can be either positive or negative. Therefore, as the hon. Gentleman rightly identified, it is semantics. The additional phrase would be superfluous. Alternatives could be sprayed throughout legislation, not for the benefit of clarity and certainly not for the benefit of brevity.