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Proceeding contribution from Christopher Chope (Conservative) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 29 October 2008. It occurred during Debate on bill on Canterbury City Council Bill.


Canterbury City Council Bill [Lords] (By Order)

My right hon. Friend makes a good point, which I hope my hon. Friend the Member for Canterbury has taken on board. My right hon. Friend will be aware of the Regulatory Enforcement and Sanctions Act 2008. Part 3 of that Act contains provisions relating to civil enforcement in similar situations, which can include the forfeiture of goods, but sets out strong reservations regarding the need for compensation if the seizure of goods is mistaken or not soundly based in law. If somebody is deemed to be selling apples or oranges in Canterbury in breach of the relevant regulations, all their goods can be seized and will then have to be stored at the right temperature. The provisions in clause 7 go well beyond pedlars, who are dealt with in a separate clause, and deal with street trading. If people are selling hamburgers, hot dogs or ice creams, for example, and their entire stock is taken, how will it be possible under the Bill for the owner of those goods not to suffer a financial penalty? Once the food has already been cooked, my wife tells me, it should not be cooked again, particularly if it is pork or chicken. Once the food has been seized and has cooled down, will the provisions about storing it at an appropriate temperature require hot or cold storage? We do not need to go into those issues now, but it is important that we should flag them up, because the Bill is novel in comparison with the other Bills. The third issue—[Interruption.] If the right hon. Member for Leeds, West (John Battle) wishes me to give way so that we can hear what he is saying in his sedentary intervention, I shall happily do so.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
481 c996-7 
Session
2007-08
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Canterbury City Council Touting Street trading Canterbury
Legislation
Canterbury City Council Bill 2007-08 to 2012-13
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk