Clause 53
Policing and Crime Bill
4:00 pm
Nicholas Winterton (Macclesfield, Conservative)
I remind the Committee that with this amendment, we are considering amendment 254, in clause 54, page 66, line 32, at end insert
‘save that time during which the person was outside the United Kingdom shall be disregarded for the purposes of consideration for parole or early release in any event.’.
As my co-Chairman Hugh Bayley no doubt said to the Committee this morning, may I welcome you back from a short half-term recess? I spent most of the time in Namibia, which was previously German South-West Africa. It was a most enjoyable Commonwealth Parliamentary Association visit and I am reinvigorated to preside over the remaining stages—all except for one—of this Public Bill Committee. I hope that all members of the Committee had a very restful and enjoyable recess; I am sure that Ministers did and I express the same hope for members of the Opposition parties.
I gather that the Minister was responding to a debate on amendment 253 and, according to those who advise me, I believe that he was expressing the hope that the Opposition spokesman might consider withdrawing his amendment. Therefore, I ask the Minister of State, Vernon Coaker, to complete his remarks.