Part of Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 4:45 pm on 20 January 2005.
Alun Michael
Minister of State (Rural Affairs), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
4:45,
20 January 2005
I must insist on one point: there is no requirement in Clause 33 to remove illegal advertisements; that duty is in existing law. However, I agree with the hon. Lady that the powers and prosecutions should be proportionate. Subsection (3) sets out the defence, should things ever get to that point, of the person being able to show that
''the advertisement was displayed without his knowledge''.
That would cover one aspect of her concern. The other defence is that
''he took all reasonable steps to prevent the display or, after the advertisement had been displayed, to secure its removal.''
That does not require the taking of unreasonable steps. The issue is one of being reasonable and proportionate, but making it clear that in some circumstances landowners in urban and rural areas pay little attention to the effect of advertisements on their neighbours and other people who come into their vicinity. The clause sets out a reasonable requirement, not an unreasonable requirement.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 33 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
A parliamentary bill is divided into sections called clauses.
Printed in the margin next to each clause is a brief explanatory `side-note' giving details of what the effect of the clause will be.
During the committee stage of a bill, MPs examine these clauses in detail and may introduce new clauses of their own or table amendments to the existing clauses.
When a bill becomes an Act of Parliament, clauses become known as sections.
