Clause 8 - Remand etc.

Part of Extradition Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:30 pm on 9 January 2003.

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Photo of John Maples John Maples Conservative, Stratford-on-Avon 4:30, 9 January 2003

One aspect of the amendment troubles me. There are occasional emergencies in court cases where it is necessary for one party to make an ex parte application. The judge should be able to adjourn a hearing at the instigation of one party where it has not been possible and there has not been time to serve a notice on the other party, which would be necessary if both were to be heard. Obviously, the judge would want to hear both parties before he made a final decision. However, there is a danger that the amendment would make such ex parte applications impossible in emergencies. That might be to the detriment of the person whose extradition was being sought, because he or she might be the one to be seeking to make an ex parte application.