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Proceeding contribution from Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat) in the House of Commons on Tuesday, 14 December 2010. It occurred during Debate on bill on Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Bill [Lords].


Terrorist Asset-Freezing etc. Bill [Lords]

Indeed, I was saying that I did not believe that that had ever happened, and I am grateful for the assurance that it never has. That shows exactly why amendment 6 makes sense. If no Minister would ever filter such reports, there should be no requirement for them to go through Ministers. That creates a potential filter that we hope will never be used. I hope that the Government simply agree with my position, so I will not labour the point. However, I doubt that the Minister will say that he agrees. I will raise something that I mentioned on Second Reading, which might provide a compromise. As the Minister is aware, there is a recent precedent for Select Committees to approve independent appointments. That happened with the Office for Budget Responsibility and I hope that it will happen with other bodies. Perhaps the Minister will agree that it would be helpful for the reviewer to be confirmed by an appropriate Select Committee in a similar way, to ensure that there is certainty for Parliament as well as Government that the reviewer will perform their role properly and independently.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
520 c868 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Civil liberties Assets Terrorism
Legislation
Terrorist Asset-freezing etc Bill (HL) 2010-12
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk