Clause 11 - Requirements under sections 9 and 10: supplemental
Drugs Bill
10:30 am
Mr Alistair Carmichael (Shadow Minister (Northern Ireland), Northern Ireland Affairs; Orkney and Shetland, Liberal Democrat)
I suggest to the hon. Lady that because the sanction of criminal prosecution is attached to failure to attend, it is necessary to include such things in the Bill. Many people to whom it will apply will lead chaotic lives, and will no doubt have a history of claiming, ''I didn't know'' or ''I forgot'', and all the rest of it. That sort of detail is necessary because of the Government's decision to attach a criminal sanction.