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Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies Regulations 2006

My Lords, the whole question of fines that are being imposed particularly under Defra Bills has concerned me for several months. Many cases serve to produce evidence; they are not what I call life threatening, as some of the other instances are that come before the House for debate. In many cases we question this because the proportionality of some of the fines that could be imposed seem to us to be exceptionally high by comparison with other everyday examples, as I call them, that I could give. That is why we keep raising the issue. In some cases, where it is not considered urgent or imperative, it appears that the Government propose to bring forward very big ranges.