INTERPRETATION OF CHAPTER 2 (Hansard, 14 October 2003)

§ Caroline Flint
I beg to move amendment No. 14, in page 16, line 19, leave out from 'means' to end of line 22 and insert 'the Framework Decision on the execution in the European Union of orders freezing property or evidence adopted by the Council of the European Union on 22nd July 2003'.

§ Mr. Deputy Speaker
With this it will be convenient to take Government amendments Nos. 15 to 17 and 19 to 27.

§ Caroline Flint
I should like to say a few words about these Government amendments, bearing in mind the fact that we were criticised—I think, unjustly—during earlier debates for not having brought new clause 1 to the House's attention earlier, during proceedings in Committee. So I want to put on record the reason why these technical amendments are being moved today.
These technical amendments have been tabled to take account of the recent adoption, on 22 July, by the European Council of the framework decision on the execution in the European Union of orders freezing 53 property or evidence. Now that the framework decision has been formally adopted, it makes for good drafting in the Bill to refer to the final form of the decision. The Bill currently refers to the relevant framework decision, and secondary legislation would be required to identify the framework decision and the provisions of the decision defining what are listed offences covered by freezing orders and what is the specified information to be contained in a certificate accompanying the orders.
Under the amendments, the Bill will refer to the framework decision as formally adopted, giving the provisions greater clarity. The relevant definitions in clause 28 and schedule 4 will be amended to refer to the framework decision itself and to the specific provisions in the framework decision that have been formally adopted.