Civil Contingencies Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 6:33 pm on 16 November 2004.

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Photo of Baroness Buscombe Baroness Buscombe Shadow Minister, Home Affairs, Shadow Minister (Home Affairs), Shadow Minister (Home, Constitutional and Legal Affairs) , Shadow Minister (Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) 6:33, 16 November 2004

My Lords, perhaps I can reassure the noble Lord, Lord Avebury. We have worked on the amendment very carefully with the Public Bill Office. Yes, it would cease to have effect, but it would be debated in both Houses of Parliament, and assuming that the powers were re-enacted, it would automatically come into power again for a further three years. It simply mirrors the anti-terrorism laws with which your Lordships may be familiar, where a similar sunset clause exists, but on an annual basis. That is also the case in the Northern Ireland Acts.