Criminal Justice Bill — [3rd Alloted Day] – in the House of Commons at 5:15 pm on 20 May 2003.
Votes in this debate
Increase in sentences for hate crimes
'(1) In considering the seriousness of an offence which falls under the category of "hate crime" as set out in subsection (2), the court—
(a) must treat that fact as an aggravating factor (that is to say, a factor that increases the seriousness of the offence), and
(b) must state in open court that the offence was so aggravated.
(2) An offence is to be considered a hate crime for the purposes of section if—
(a) at the time of committing the offence, or immediately before or after doing so, the offender demonstrates towards the victim of the offence hostility based on the victim's actual or perceived race, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation; or
(b) the offence is motivated (wholly or partly) by hostility towards people on the basis of their race, religion, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.
(3) In this section "race" may be defined by reference to race, colour, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins.'.—[Mr. Heath.]
Brought up, and read the First time.
Motion made, and Question put, That the clause be read a Second time:—
The House divided: Ayes 53, Noes 326.
Division number 209
Criminal Justice Bill — [3rd Alloted Day] — New Clause 6
Division number 210
Criminal Justice Bill — [3rd Alloted Day] — New Clause 6
John Bercow
Conservative, Buckingham
5:57,
20 May 2003
On a point of order, Mr. Deputy Speaker. I am very conscious that the proceedings of the House are not exactly box office across the country. Nevertheless, a significant number of people attend to them in one way or another, in one place or another. I wonder whether you would be good enough to confirm that the reason why you have just had to go through that ludicrous charade is that we have not had time to debate the new clauses and amendments, and that the reason for that is the absurdity of the Government's truncation of the debate in the form of the ludicrous programme motion to which we were subjected yesterday.
Michael Lord
Deputy Speaker (Second Deputy Chairman of Ways and Means)
I would say to the hon. Gentleman that I am simply doing what the House has asked me to do.
