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Proceeding contribution from Lord Boyd of Duncansby (Labour) in the House of Lords on Thursday, 11 January 2007. It occurred during Debate on bill and Committee proceeding on Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill.


Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill

The noble Lord raises an important point. It is important to ensure that the prosecution has the full range of offences available to it when it considers what prosecution should be mounted. I am sure that the noble Lord will agree that it is not simply a matter of individuals being held responsible for health and safety legislation, but in some instances individual directors may be held responsible for corporate manslaughter or corporate killing in Scotland. I would be very interested to hear what the Minister says in reply. My concern about the amendment is one that I know lawyers always have: having something in the Bill that says that it does not hinder that particular aspect does not mean that the intention of Parliament was to hinder something else; for example, individuals being held responsible for corporate manslaughter. That is my gut reaction. I suspect that we will be told that that is not necessary. My interpretation is that the amendment is not necessary because it is quite clear that the full range of statutory and, in Scotland, common law offences remain in respect of individuals.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
688 c157-8GC 
Session
2006-07
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords Grand Committee
Subjects
Accountability Armed forces Death Companies Crown immunity Corporate manslaughter Liability Health and safety Exemptions Government departments Police Prosecutions Management Public bodies Negligence
Legislation
Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill 2005-06 to 2006-07
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk