Clause 11
Employment Bill [Lords]
5:00 pm
Jonathan Djanogly (Shadow Minister, Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform; Huntingdon, Conservative)
The Minister has gone half way to answering my queries, and I understand his point that the system is changing and that that is partly the reason for the lack of criminal prosecutions to date, although I do not believe that any hon. Member would say that the existing policy has been successful, which is presumably why we are changing it. I have still not seen proof that Crown court prosecutions will be required. The Minister is saying that they may be required, and on the basis of what “may” be required, we would certainly have 42 days’ detention without trial, and a draconian criminal system. We will give the matter further thought, and perhaps return to it on Report.