I shall not because we have debated the matter at length. It is right to add accountability to the mix and that is precisely why the measure does so much to strengthen the basic command units by making them coterminous with local authorities and giving police authorities the right to...

I shall not because we have debated the matter at length. It is right to add accountability to the mix and that is precisely why the measure does so much to strengthen the basic command units by making them coterminous with local authorities and giving police authorities the right to...

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert) for his warm words of congratulation and I sincerely look forward to debating many issues with him. The hon. Gentleman ranged widely beyond the Bill, as is his right, to the subject of amalgamations, as did...

I am grateful to the hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs (Nick Herbert) for his warm words of congratulation and I sincerely look forward to debating many issues with him. The hon. Gentleman ranged widely beyond the Bill, as is his right, to the subject of amalgamations, as did...

I shall first deal briefly with the Government amendments. Government amendment No. 75 is consequential to new clause 4. As hon. Members know, police authorities can delegate powers to construct committees but only those that are organised across the entire geography of a region. New clause 4 and the associated...

I shall first deal briefly with the Government amendments. Government amendment No. 75 is consequential to new clause 4. As hon. Members know, police authorities can delegate powers to construct committees but only those that are organised across the entire geography of a region. New clause 4 and the associated...

I will do so in a moment. The amendment tabled by the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden contains a number of interesting features, which also compel me to urge the House to reject it. First, it would require a referendum even when police authorities concerned have volunteered to...

I will do so in a moment. The amendment tabled by the right hon. Member for Haltemprice and Howden contains a number of interesting features, which also compel me to urge the House to reject it. First, it would require a referendum even when police authorities concerned have volunteered to...

There are two voices in particular to which I would expect the Home Secretary to listen. One is the voice of Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary, which has tabled a report; the other is the voice of the House, which will be heard in the debates that are required for...

There are two voices in particular to which I would expect the Home Secretary to listen. One is the voice of Her Majesty’s inspectorate of constabulary, which has tabled a report; the other is the voice of the House, which will be heard in the debates that are required for...

I begin by associating myself wholeheartedly with the sentiments expressed by my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Joan Walley) and the hon. Members for Castle Point (Bob Spink) and for Mole Valley (Sir Paul Beresford). The hon. Member for Mole Valley welcomed the approach adopted by my hon....

I begin by associating myself wholeheartedly with the sentiments expressed by my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, North (Joan Walley) and the hon. Members for Castle Point (Bob Spink) and for Mole Valley (Sir Paul Beresford). The hon. Member for Mole Valley welcomed the approach adopted by my hon....

Amalgamations are not the subject of the Bill, but I will address the question of related powers in a moment. Intervention powers are long-established, and they allow the Secretary of State to fulfil one of the most important responsibilities that he or she has, namely to address rapidly any failings...

Amalgamations are not the subject of the Bill, but I will address the question of related powers in a moment. Intervention powers are long-established, and they allow the Secretary of State to fulfil one of the most important responsibilities that he or she has, namely to address rapidly any failings...

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that. I am advised that the proposals to release death registration information will follow completion of the death registration process and should not, therefore, affect other proposals for the processes and procedures prior to the registration. Administrative arrangements will be put...

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that. I am advised that the proposals to release death registration information will follow completion of the death registration process and should not, therefore, affect other proposals for the processes and procedures prior to the registration. Administrative arrangements will be put...

If my hon. Friend will permit me, I shall ensure that I have chapter and verse about that before I write to him with a full and thorough answer. Death registration information is in the public domain as soon as a death is registered. Any person can obtain a copy...

If my hon. Friend will permit me, I shall ensure that I have chapter and verse about that before I write to him with a full and thorough answer. Death registration information is in the public domain as soon as a death is registered. Any person can obtain a copy...

The purpose of the new clause is to give registrars general in England, Wales and Northern Ireland the statutory authority to share death registration information with the police, special police forces, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and other organisations specified by order, for use in the prevention, detection, investigation or...

The purpose of the new clause is to give registrars general in England, Wales and Northern Ireland the statutory authority to share death registration information with the police, special police forces, the Serious Organised Crime Agency and other organisations specified by order, for use in the prevention, detection, investigation or...

I share that concern and I was keen to understand the issue when it was raised in my briefing from officials at the Home Office. The assurance that I have been given is that the new codes, particularly the one for the Crown prosecutors, will confront those issues head on....

I share that concern and I was keen to understand the issue when it was raised in my briefing from officials at the Home Office. The assurance that I have been given is that the new codes, particularly the one for the Crown prosecutors, will confront those issues head on....

The hon. Gentleman slightly misheard what I said. I said that conditional cautions had been trialled in a number of areas, and that the results from those pilot areas had shown the trials to be successful. We want to extend the scheme to include a broader range of offenders, including...

The hon. Gentleman slightly misheard what I said. I said that conditional cautions had been trialled in a number of areas, and that the results from those pilot areas had shown the trials to be successful. We want to extend the scheme to include a broader range of offenders, including...

With your permission, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I shall make one or two concluding remarks. Many years ago I read my Maitland—““The Constitutional History of England””—and I can still remember that flexibility has characterised the English system of law for the past 1,000 years. I am not a lawyer, however, so...

With your permission, Mr. Deputy Speaker, I shall make one or two concluding remarks. Many years ago I read my Maitland—““The Constitutional History of England””—and I can still remember that flexibility has characterised the English system of law for the past 1,000 years. I am not a lawyer, however, so...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. In concluding our debates on the measures before us, I want to put on the record my gratitude, and that of my Front-Bench colleagues, for the extraordinary contributions made by my right hon. Friends the Member for...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. In concluding our debates on the measures before us, I want to put on the record my gratitude, and that of my Front-Bench colleagues, for the extraordinary contributions made by my right hon. Friends the Member for...

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

The purpose of new clause 6 is to render crystal clear the provisions in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984—PACE—pertaining to detention and bail. When a custody officer refers a case to the relevant Crown Prosecution Service lawyer, the options available to prosecutors under section 37 of the Act...

The purpose of new clause 6 is to render crystal clear the provisions in the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984—PACE—pertaining to detention and bail. When a custody officer refers a case to the relevant Crown Prosecution Service lawyer, the options available to prosecutors under section 37 of the Act...

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

I beg to move, That the clause be read a Second time.

I will come to the question of amalgamations shortly. In Committee, many hon. Members accepted the principle that powers of last resort to intervene should exist, providing the Secretary of State with the means to take remedial action where significant and enduring performance failings had been identified. These revisions are...

I will come to the question of amalgamations shortly. In Committee, many hon. Members accepted the principle that powers of last resort to intervene should exist, providing the Secretary of State with the means to take remedial action where significant and enduring performance failings had been identified. These revisions are...

It is not for me to second-guess the Prime Minister’s motives on anything. [Laughter.] Let me return to two issues. First, as the hon. Gentleman would accept, if Her Majesty’s inspectorate has set out an argument that the current structure of 43 forces is insufficient to provide robust, effective and...

It is not for me to second-guess the Prime Minister’s motives on anything. [Laughter.] Let me return to two issues. First, as the hon. Gentleman would accept, if Her Majesty’s inspectorate has set out an argument that the current structure of 43 forces is insufficient to provide robust, effective and...