Clause 59
Policing and Crime Bill
5:15 pm
Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon, Liberal Democrat)
As I understand it from the explanatory notes, the Government do not believe that article 6 applies to extradition hearings—that is, the right to a fair trial. Nevertheless, I still think it is necessary for the Government to provide on the record some justification of why it wants to move to giving the judge the power to provide for live-link directions. I question whether the Government are certain—given everything we have discussed—that article 6 does not apply to extradition hearings in respect of the ECHR and to ask in any event what the justifications are for this. I am sure the Minister has a justification, which he is ready to give.