§
Lords amendment: in page 9, line 10, at end insert:
(2A) The Court by which a person is convicted of an offence under subsection (2) above may order the forfeiture of—
§ 11.31 p.m.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. E. S. Bishop)I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.
May I remind the House briefly that this amendment was tabled in Committee. Since then further consideration has been given to it in the other place, and on reflection we believe that the basis of the amendment is right. That is why we have accepted it. I recommend it to the House.
§ Mr. Douglas Hurd (Mid-Oxon)This was a point that was raised by the Opposition in Committee. It was felt that the penalties laid down in Schedule 1 were not quite wide enough to suit the possible range of offences that might be committed and that it would be right—as is now proposed by the other place—that the courts should have the power to order forfeiture of nets or fishing gear used in committing the offence and of the fish in respect of which the offence was committed. It seemed to us that this was a necessary and desirable addition to the penalties provided in the schedule, and I am glad that after consideration by the Lords the Government have come round to this opinion.
§ Question put and agreed to.