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Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill

Perhaps I can take the Minister to a slightly different tack. I would have great confidence in the Director of Public Prosecutions exercising the discretion that the Bill gives him, although I appreciate the publicity problems where a government department is involved. Is there not a second point about government policy? The possible conflict I detect is between the position that the Government take here and the position that they regularly take in all serious crime legislation. I heard it being taken the other day in respect of the Mental Health Bill, which is proceeding through your Lordships' House in Committee at this very moment—it is a pity that the two Committees conflict. Again and again, the Government have said that the criminal law system does not pay enough attention to the victims. Although I cannot offhand cite particular occasions, the Committee will be well aware that that note is struck by the Prime Minister and other important Ministers. I do not think that it was struck in Bangalore, the other day by one very important Minister, but the victim’s place is a constant theme of government policy in criminal legislation. This is a very serious crime guarded by all sorts of limitations in the Bill—I do not suggest that there should not be particular conditions—but surely the Government’s policy suggests that in some circumstances a private prosecution should be left open in the Bill. My noble friend Lady Turner mentioned the organisation for those who are or have been victims and the dreadful consequences where workers are killed by gross negligence at work.