§ 3.5 p.m.
§ Baroness BlatchMy Lords, it may be for the convenience of the House if I correct personally something that I said in answer to the noble Lord, Lord Dean of Beswick. I know that efforts are being made to bring him back to the Chamber.
In answer to a question which he posed about Mr. Noye, I referred to a murder having taken place. I said that there had been a trial; and that the person was found guilty and subsequently served a sentence. The noble Lord, Lord Dean of Beswick, will know that that is not right. There was a murder; there was a trial; and the person was acquitted. There was a subsequent case in which the policeman was found guilty of corruption. I thought it best to put that matter right at the first available opportunity.
§ Lord Dean of BeswickMy Lords, I am grateful for that. There was another trial in which Mr. Noye, who got away with murder, was prosecuted for laundering the money, for which he received a sentence of 14 years. I believe that he served only seven years of that sentence. That is not much of a disincentive, is it?