Clause 35 - General functions of Commissioner

Part of Modern Slavery Bill – in a Public Bill Committee at 6:00 pm on 9 September 2014.

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Photo of Karen Bradley Karen Bradley The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department 6:00, 9 September 2014

I thank the hon. Gentleman for giving way. He would agree that “independent” does not feature in the statute that set up the independent chief inspector of borders or the independent reviewer of terrorism  legislation, and that those roles were set up without that word. I also hope he will understand that it would be negligent of me, as a Minister, to agree to put the word “independent” in the Bill until I have checked—as I have committed to doing, because I understand the strength of feeling in Committee—that to make such a change would have no unintended consequences. I am sure that he will accept that that is the responsible approach.