Clause 39 — Religious hatred offences

Part of Orders of the Day — Anti-terrorism, Crime and Security Bill – in the House of Commons at 10:30 pm on 12 December 2001.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Dr Brian Mawhinney Dr Brian Mawhinney Conservative, North West Cambridgeshire 10:30, 12 December 2001

I appreciate the fact that the Home Secretary took seriously the concerns that I expressed in Committee. He was as good as his word. He made arrangements for me to see his officials and we had a constructive discussion. It would be fair to say, without revealing the content of those private discussions, that I alerted officials to the dangers of going down this route, and tried to persuade them of the merits of the way that I thought was best.

The Government have now introduced this legislation. I am grateful to the Minister for saying that the Government would table an amendment to substitute the word "will" for "may" in the amendment, but I have also let it be known that without having sight of the guidance—never mind the issue of guidance itself—there is no way that any responsible House of Parliament could endorse—