Clause 29 - Unauthorised disclosure of information
Identity Cards Bill
4:00 pm
Mr Des Browne (Minister of State (Citizenship, Immigration and Counter-Terrorism), Home Office; Kilmarnock and Loudoun, Labour)
The simplest answer is that the hon. Gentleman is right. He will accept it from me that it would be entirely inappropriate for Parliament to fetter courts that might properly make such orders in appropriate circumstances, bearing it in mind that such orders will not be made willy-nilly and will be subject to the normal rules on the disclosure of evidence or information.
It would not be appropriate for Parliament—having allowed the courts for many decades, if not centuries, to make such orders—to seek to restrict them. However, the hon. Gentleman is right to bring the issue to the attention of those who may be interested.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 29 ordered to stand part of the Bill.