CONSPIRACY LAW AMENDMENT BILL. MOTION FOR LEAVE. (Hansard, 9 February 1893)

§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fife, E.

I beg to move for leave to bring in a Bill to amend mid define the Law of Conspiracy. I trust, Sir, the Bill at its present, stage will be treated by gentlemen opposite as a non-controversial measure. It is very simple in its character, of only two clauses, and in effect it proposes to apply to all combinations the provisions contained in the Act of 1875, which, in reference to certain trade combinations, provided that au net done by two persons should not be punishable unless it could be equally punishable if done by one person. The only other provisions in the Bill are for carrying into effect certain recommendations of the Criminal Code Commissioners and for strengthening the law as regards breaches of the peace resulting, or that might result, front the use of threatening, language. I trust hon. Gentlemen will allow the Bill to be introduced, and then we call have a full discussion On the Second Reading.

§ SIR RICHARD WEBSTER (Isle of Wight)

Sir, we have had a very meagre statement, indeed, from the right hon. Gentleman on a measure which may lead to an important, change in the law. There are one or two very important, considerations which might have received some notice from the right hon. Gentleman. On a Notice of Motion touching this subject during last Session a long discussion took place. It was then 915 pointed out that in any change of the law certain cases should not he excluded from the general Law of Conspiracy without very careful consideration. When I saw the Bill on the Paper I thought the right hon. Gentleman would have given some general statement as to the particular eases of conspiracy in which the law, as it stands at present, presses hardly. When I remember that in the Debate last year there were numbers of cases indicated which should not be left outside and beyond the pale of the law, it is, I think, due to the House that we should have a full statement of the cases he has in view—something more than the meagre statement to which we have just listened. Either the right hon. Gentleman's Bill is couched in very general terms and very likely to effect sweeping changes in the law, or it must be a Bill dealing with a small part of the question. When the right hon. Gentleman proposes to amend the law—while I have no desire to deal with the Bill now, think it is due to the House that it should have opportunity-for full discussion.