Clause 17 - Offence
Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Bill
4:30 pm
Evan Harris (Science, Non-Departmental & Cross Departmental Responsibilities; Oxford West and Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)
It is always tempting to think of very bad offences—as the hon. Member for Woking, who is far more experienced in these matters than I am, did—and to seek to increase the maximum penalty. However, would not the sorts of cases that he mentions—we can all think of some—be covered by other health and safety measures with stronger penalties? Is it necessary—perhaps it is—for the Opposition always to seek to ratchet up the tariff on the basis of very bad cases to which we think the legislation would apply, but to which other offences, such as reckless endangerment, and therefore higher penalties, would apply?