Serious Organised Crime and Police Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:00 am on 13 January 2005.
Mr Bill O'Brien
Labour, Normanton
With this it will be convenient to discuss the following amendments: No. 202, in Clause 69, page 40, line 39, leave out subsection (6).
No. 203, in clause 70, page 41, line 2, leave out from first 'the' to 'Court'.
No. 204, in clause 70, page 41, line 18, leave out subsection (6).
Jonathan Djanogly
Shadow Minister (Home Affairs)
The idea of enhanced licensing power seems to be one of the more cutting-edge areas of criminal law, the basic idea being to look at the licence conditions for criminals, possibly post-release, or post-conviction and during prison, or after sentencing. As for when any changes will cut in, that is a debate that will come up later in the Clause.
The licensing powers in question relate to financial reporting orders. The Opposition support the provisions. It should possible to mould financial reporting orders to fit the circumstances of a case. We also support the basic premise of ending the old arrangement, whereby which criminals could do their time and enjoy their ill-gotten gains once they came out of prison. A well drafted order should be an aid towards that end. However, the process is new and we need to tread carefully, not least given the human rights issues involved and the significant breach of rights to privacy that the orders will necessarily involve. We must ask at what point the infringement of privacy involved in such orders becomes unjustifiable, acknowledging that even where they are justifiable, their length and scope will need to be proportionate to the offence and the risk of reoffending. Unfortunately that important issue is not addressed in the Bill—
It being twenty-five minutes past Eleven o'clock, The Chairman adjourned the Committee without Question put, pursuant to the Standing Order.
Adjourned till this day at half-past Two o'clock.
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.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
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.
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
