Clause 90

Part of Counter-Terrorism Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 1:30 pm on 15 May 2008.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Dominic Grieve Dominic Grieve Shadow Attorney General 1:30, 15 May 2008

I am not persuaded by the Minister’s argument. He makes a good point when he says that in reality an extension from 28 to 42 days may require only minor amendments to the existing code. It will certainly require some amendments, I think, but I accept that they may be of a minor nature. Nevertheless, they will have to have been done before the change starts. I was therefore puzzled by his comments about post-charge questioning not being handled under PACE at all. I suppose that it is possible that a separate set of rules could be introduced for it, but I would have thought that it would be sensible for it to be dealt with as an amendment to PACE and have never envisaged otherwise. It is essential that those codes are in place.

If the Minister is prepared to give me an undertaking that he can give assurances to the House on Report that there will be codes in place prior to any introduction of the measures, I will withdraw the amendment. If he is not, I shall press it to a vote to mark the point that many on the Committee are concerned about this matter.