Business of the House

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:31 pm on 21 February 2005.

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Photo of Mr Tony McWalter Mr Tony McWalter Labour/Co-operative, Hemel Hempstead 3:31, 21 February 2005

Does my right hon. Friend accept that the strong action that he wants to take in response to terrorist threats would receive greater support if it were clear that all the available evidence would be brought to court, particularly phone tap evidence? That greatly exercised the Standing Committee that considered the Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill, but when the Bill reached this House, only one sentence of objection came from a Labour Member—my right hon. Friend Mr. Smith. It is vital that phone tap evidence be admissible in court to minimise the prospect of people being unnecessarily detained without trial.