HC Deb 05 March 1980 vol 980 cc618-9 10.19 pm
The Solicitor-General (Sir Ian Percival)

I beg to move amendment No. 1 in page 69, line 7, leave out 'in Northern Ireland or elsewhere'.

The Second Deputy Chairman

With this it will be convenient to take Government amendments Nos. 2 and 4.

The Solicitor-General

The amendment, together with Government amendments Nos. 2 and 4, corrects an oversight in respect of the application of subsections (2) and (7) of section 28 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 and section 289B of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975, which increase the relevant maximum fine which may be imposed in Great Britain on summary conviction, and provide that such maximum may be changed by order of the Secretary of State on a change in the value of money. The amendment merely restates existing law. It makes no change in the law. I shall be happy to give the Committee any detail on the amendment that it might wish to have, but for the moment I content myself with these remarks.

Mr. Peter Archer (Warley, West)

To preserve the sense of occasion set by the Scottish Bill just dealt with, I hasten to assure the Solicitor-General that I do not expect that the Committee will be avid for any further detailed information. The Opposition take the view that we may deal with the other amendments quickly.

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment made: No. 2, in page 69, line 8, leave out £'50' and insert 'the statutory maximum'.—[The Solicitor-General.]

The Solicitor-General

I beg to move amendment No. 3 in page 69, line 13, after 'elsewhere', insert 'in the United Kingdom'.

This is a drafting amendment to clarify the effect of the word "elsewhere".

Amendment agreed to.

Amendment made: No. 4, in page 69, line 15, at end insert— '(2) In subsection (1) above "the statutory maximum", in relation to a fine on summary conviction, means—

  1. (a) in England and Wales, the prescribed sum within the meaning of section 28 of the Criminal Law Act 1977 (at the passing of this Act £1,000);
  2. (b) in Scotland, the prescribed sum within the meaning of section 289B of the Criminal Procedure (Scotland) Act 1975 (at the passing of this Act £1,000); and
  3. (c) in Northern Ireland, £50.'—[The Solicitor-General.]

Clause 144, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Clauses 145 to 158 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

Schedules 1 to 10 agreed to.

Bill reported, with amendments; as amended, considered.

Motion made, and Question, That the Bill be now read the Third time, put forthwith pursuant to Standing Order No. 56 (Third Reading), and agreed to.

Bill accordingly read the Third time and passed, with amendments.