Clause 2 - Certification commissioner
Northern Ireland (Offences) Bill
2:15 pm
David Hanson (Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office; Delyn, Labour)
As I said, we are trying to replicate as far as possible normal Crown court procedures, with certain parameters such as trial in absentia—a controversial matter that we will refer to at a later date. I cannot accept the amendment spoken to by the hon. Member for East Antrim because there is no victim impact statement in normal Crown court procedures. We shall debate such matters when we reach the clauses on the Crown court procedure.