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Terrorism Bill

I fundamentally disagree with my noble friend in relation to its use. I was giving the figures to the Committee in order to be accurate. Of course we will look later at Section 44 and its application. It should be noted that the figures for the 2003–04 period show that the number of those stopped and searched had risen across all ethnic groups but that the proportion of Asians stopped and searched had fallen slightly. So to suggest that there is disproportionality and that the increase is in relation to one ethnic group alone is not right. The balance of the debate seems to be strongly in support of 90 days. I regret that I will be unable to vote in support of the amendment. On this issue, the Government Front Bench will abstain. What my noble friends on the Back Benches decide to do is entirely a matter for them.