New Clause 8

Part of Serious Crime Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 11:30 am on 10 July 2007.

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Photo of Maria Eagle Maria Eagle The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice 11:30, 10 July 2007

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

The new clause ensures that the powers that apply to a substantive offence would also apply to an offence of encouraging or assisting that offence. It is entirely sensible and one of the main purposes of the entire reform of the criminal law that part 2 represents that this be the case. There is already similar provision in section 2 of the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 to ensure that powers applying to substantive offences also apply to attempts. Therefore, there is nothing out of order here; it is simply joining up the system. On that basis, I hope that the Committee will be able to accept the new clause.