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Legislative and Regulatory Reform Bill

I listened carefully to the answer that the Minister gave to my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Rushcliffe (Mr. Clarke) on taxation. Clauses 5 and 6 offer us some comfort. However, it is quite clear that, under clause 6, the Minister is not prevented from adding to the criminal statute book offences that attract a penalty of up to two years. There are plenty of offences that the criminal courts deal with now that carry a maximum penalty of up to two years. Is he telling us that the word ““burden”” does not encompass new criminal offences that a Minister might dream up that do not attract a penalty of more than two years?