New Clause 3
Fraud (Trials Without a Jury) Bill
6:30 pm
Douglas Hogg (Sleaford and North Hykeham, Conservative)
I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.
We are going with splendid speed, are we not Mr. Bercow? If we crack along, we might even finish tonight. That would be jolly nice, because I would not have to get here for 9 am on Thursday; that is an unconscionably early hour for me. However, that is beside the point.
New clause 3 is also designed to improve the safeguards for the defendant. It is odd, but if one looks at section 43 of the 2003 Act, one sees no requirement on the trial judge to whom the application is being made by the prosecution to hear oral representations. Perhaps the Solicitor-General will say that practice directions will be issued.