Clause 27
Energy Bill
4:15 pm
Malcolm Wicks (Minister of State (Energy), Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform; Croydon North, Labour)
It would be helpful if I briefly introduce this procedural clause, which ensures that an offence under this chapter can be tried in any part of the United Kingdom—we had a similar clause in relation to gas storage—regardless of the location in which the offence may have been committed. It also sets out which authorities can institute or give permission to institute criminal proceedings in respect of the offshore area. The clause makes the prosecution of offences committed under this chapter more effective as it allows the prosecution of such offences to be carried out anywhere in the UK, without having to ascertain which court has jurisdiction. It gives the Secretary of State, among others, the power to prosecute offences committed offshore.