Schedule 1
Counter-Terrorism Bill
10:45 am
Martin Salter (Reading West, Labour)
In the context of what the hon. and learned Gentleman is about to say, may I remind him what Conservative Members have said on the matter? I take him back to a Home Affairs Committee report that is not often quoted—not the one a few months ago, in which I was involved, which cited exceptional circumstances very much as laid down in the Bill, but that of June 2006. It recommended unanimously that
“the growing number of cases and the increase in suspects monitored by the police and security services make it entirely possible, and perhaps increasingly likely, that there will be cases that do provide that justification. We believe, therefore”—
I emphasise that “we” means that it was agreed on an all-party basis—
“that the 28 day limit may well prove inadequate in the future.”
Has the hon. and learned Gentleman had a chance to reflect on the views of some of his colleagues?