Clause 3
Serious Crime Bill [Lords]
Public Bill Committees, 26 June 2007, 5:00 pm
Douglas Hogg (Sleaford & North Hykeham, Conservative)
I shall not speak at any length, because the provisions for Northern Ireland are the same as those in clause 2. It is none the less regrettable that there is not a Member from the Province on the Committee. We are dealing with matters of importance to the Province, and I am rather surprised that it does not have representation.
If I might just briefly adopt the mantle of an Ulsterman—I am an Ulsterman by background, though some generations ago—I respectfully say to the Committee that our arguments on clauses 1 and 2 have equal application to clause 3. I am sorry that there is not an Ulsterman here to defend the interests of the Province. I shall not press the matter to a Division, because we have already discussed clauses 1 and 2 and there is no point in revisiting them.