As the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) rightly recognised, we had a very constructive and full discussion in Committee on 20 June. I have not changed my mind since then, but I hear the points that he makes. We hope in due course to be in a...

As the hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) rightly recognised, we had a very constructive and full discussion in Committee on 20 June. I have not changed my mind since then, but I hear the points that he makes. We hope in due course to be in a...

However, I am not prepared to argue about it any longer, because it is not getting us anywhere. The provision is not inadequate, merely loosely worded. On the other matter, the Solicitor-General has taken us further forward by saying in terms that the provision does not apply to someone who...

However, I am not prepared to argue about it any longer, because it is not getting us anywhere. The provision is not inadequate, merely loosely worded. On the other matter, the Solicitor-General has taken us further forward by saying in terms that the provision does not apply to someone who...

One of the criteria recommended by the Law Commission for the application of clause 4 was whether a person"““occupies a position in which he is expected to safeguard, or not to act against, the financial interests of another person.””" Amendment No. 1 would alter the wording of clause 4 to...

One of the criteria recommended by the Law Commission for the application of clause 4 was whether a person"““occupies a position in which he is expected to safeguard, or not to act against, the financial interests of another person.””" Amendment No. 1 would alter the wording of clause 4 to...

I am grateful to the Solicitor-General. I have listened with great care, in Committee and today, to what he has said about fiduciary duty. I entirely understand his wish not to have a provision that is capable of exploitation by an unscrupulous defence. However, I do not understand, because he...

I am grateful to the Solicitor-General. I have listened with great care, in Committee and today, to what he has said about fiduciary duty. I entirely understand his wish not to have a provision that is capable of exploitation by an unscrupulous defence. However, I do not understand, because he...

We can probably dispose of these amendments, which continue a useful discussion that we had in Committee, in an equally brief period. Amendment No. 1 is new and picks up on a point made in Committee by the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve). We were considering the following phrase...

We can probably dispose of these amendments, which continue a useful discussion that we had in Committee, in an equally brief period. Amendment No. 1 is new and picks up on a point made in Committee by the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve). We were considering the following phrase...

The hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) is entirely right—there was a full discussion in Committee on this clause and these concepts, and I commend to him and to the Solicitor-General the remarks of not only my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) but of my...

The hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) is entirely right—there was a full discussion in Committee on this clause and these concepts, and I commend to him and to the Solicitor-General the remarks of not only my hon. Friend the Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) but of my...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. The Fraud Bill is a small Bill but it is intended to do a big job. It aims to deliver an effective legal structure for tackling the growing threat posed by fraud. Fraud affects us all. It...

I beg to move, That the Bill be now read the Third time. The Fraud Bill is a small Bill but it is intended to do a big job. It aims to deliver an effective legal structure for tackling the growing threat posed by fraud. Fraud affects us all. It...

Another controversy led to the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General giving an assurance that there would be no resiling from the undertaking not to remove jury trials from fraud cases except through a separate, stand-alone measure, and telling us that a review and consultation was taking place about that. Will the...

Another controversy led to the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General giving an assurance that there would be no resiling from the undertaking not to remove jury trials from fraud cases except through a separate, stand-alone measure, and telling us that a review and consultation was taking place about that. Will the...

The Government appreciate that we need to consider introducing a stand-alone Bill to tackle the way in which some fraud trials have been conducted. We believe that it is important to have the ability to deal with the few non-jury trials in serious fraud cases. We intend to revert to...

The Government appreciate that we need to consider introducing a stand-alone Bill to tackle the way in which some fraud trials have been conducted. We believe that it is important to have the ability to deal with the few non-jury trials in serious fraud cases. We intend to revert to...

On Second Reading in the other place, Lord Lloyd of Berwick said:"““My Lords, it seems to me that this is one of the best Bills to have come out of the Home Office for many a long year.””—[Official Report, House of Lords, 22 June 2005; Vol. 672, c. 1664.]" I...

On Second Reading in the other place, Lord Lloyd of Berwick said:"““My Lords, it seems to me that this is one of the best Bills to have come out of the Home Office for many a long year.””—[Official Report, House of Lords, 22 June 2005; Vol. 672, c. 1664.]" I...

I shall start where the hon. and learned Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) finished by supporting his commendation of the Law Commission and all those who have worked on the Bill. I include in that not only the Solicitor-General and his team, but those in another place who did the...

I shall start where the hon. and learned Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) finished by supporting his commendation of the Law Commission and all those who have worked on the Bill. I include in that not only the Solicitor-General and his team, but those in another place who did the...

For a moment, I allowed myself to be fooled into thinking that people were coming into the Chamber to hear my speech. I have a horrible suspicion that it has more to do with what the Minister for Europe and my hon. Friend the Member for Altrincham and Sale, West...

For a moment, I allowed myself to be fooled into thinking that people were coming into the Chamber to hear my speech. I have a horrible suspicion that it has more to do with what the Minister for Europe and my hon. Friend the Member for Altrincham and Sale, West...

With the leave of the House, Madam Deputy Speaker. On Texas juries, the system is different in Texas for all sorts of reasons. One of those reasons is the element of plea bargaining in fraud cases, which is not carried out in the same way in our jurisdiction. I close...

With the leave of the House, Madam Deputy Speaker. On Texas juries, the system is different in Texas for all sorts of reasons. One of those reasons is the element of plea bargaining in fraud cases, which is not carried out in the same way in our jurisdiction. I close...

It is a pleasure to return to the discussions on the Bill, which seem to have taken place some time ago in Committee. I hope everyone’s recollections of the Committee stage are as clear as mine. I shall not delay the House long on either group of amendments, as we...

It is a pleasure to return to the discussions on the Bill, which seem to have taken place some time ago in Committee. I hope everyone’s recollections of the Committee stage are as clear as mine. I shall not delay the House long on either group of amendments, as we...

The hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) clearly set out his objections to the retention of the common law offence of conspiracy to defraud. His new clause addresses that in detail. As he said, there is no difference between us in respect of having this particular offence in...

The hon. Member for Somerton and Frome (Mr. Heath) clearly set out his objections to the retention of the common law offence of conspiracy to defraud. His new clause addresses that in detail. As he said, there is no difference between us in respect of having this particular offence in...

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 beg to move amendment No. 1, page 2, line 22, leave out"‘occupies a position in which he’" and insert ‘by reason of position,’.

I beg to move amendment No. 1, page 2, line 22, leave out"‘occupies a position in which he’" and insert ‘by reason of position,’.

I am grateful to the Solicitor-General and I entirely accept all the reasons that he offered, which are all grounds for having the review period before proceeding. I am sorry, but I do not think that there is a difference between us on this issue. We accept that if this...

I am grateful to the Solicitor-General and I entirely accept all the reasons that he offered, which are all grounds for having the review period before proceeding. I am sorry, but I do not think that there is a difference between us on this issue. We accept that if this...

Fraud Bill (HL). Report stage on Bill, unamended in Committee. New clause 1 debated and withdrawn. Further amendment debated and withdrawn. Third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Bill passed without amendment.

Fraud Bill (HL). Report stage on Bill, unamended in Committee. New clause 1 debated and withdrawn. Further amendment debated and withdrawn. Third reading debate. Agreed to on question. Bill passed without amendment.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of pension mis-selling there have been in each of the last 20 years; and what percentage of the total workforce each figure represents.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of pension mis-selling there have been in each of the last 20 years; and what percentage of the total workforce each figure represents.