Clause 1
Fraud Bill [Lords]
Mike O'Brien (Solicitor General, Law Officers' Department; North Warwickshire, Labour)
I am grateful to both hon. Gentlemen for the way in which they set out their views. We can clearly deal with the abuse of position when we discuss the amendments. The Government considered some of the points raised, particularly whether there should be a broader offence in respect of fraud but, although a general offence should be created, there would be obvious risks in making it so broad that it would be imprecise and unclear about what would be covered by it.
The Government took the view that the Law Commission’s recommendation that there should be a general offence, with its specific limits categorised in the subsequent clauses that we shall come to, was the best way forward, and that we had therefore got the balance right. I am grateful to both main Opposition parties for saying that they, too, feel that the Law Commission and the Government have got that balance right.