Clause 4

Part of Identity Documents Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 10:30 am on 6 July 2010.

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Photo of Julian Huppert Julian Huppert Liberal Democrat, Cambridge 10:30, 6 July 2010

Having had some experience of the law-making process under the previous Government, I do not automatically assume that just because they created an offence it definitely needs to be re-enacted. We saw far too many offences created, and it is important to think carefully about every new offence that we create. In particular, we took oral and written evidence from Justice, which was concerned that clauses 5 and 6 might replicate previous legislation. I got the Library to do some research—the reference is 2010/6/223-HAS if anyone wants to look at it. They found that in this case the clauses do not entirely re-create the previous laws, so I am happy that they are in fact needed in this instance. However, it is an important principle to think carefully about creating new offences.