HL Deb 22 July 1998 vol 592 c1005

78 Clause 82, page 68, line 23, after ("any") insert ("particular").

Lord Hardie

My Lords, I beg to move that the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 78.

I wish to speak also to Amendments Nos. 79 to 81 inclusive. Amendment No. 78 is a technical amendment which clarifies that, when a court makes a drug treatment and testing order, the treatment requirement may be for residential or non-residential treatment, or a combination of both.

Amendment No. 79 allows a court to cite an offender to appear before it when it hears an application by the supervising officer for amendment of a drug treatment and testing order. This means the court will be able to dispose of the application directly without the need for a further sitting. Before amending or revoking a treatment and testing order, a court must first hear the offender and supervising officer.

As presently drafted, the Bill would only allow the court to cite an offender once a decision had been taken to revoke the order. This would in practice mean the court having to sit twice, first to hear the application, then to hear the offender. This would be a waste of time for the court. We wish courts to be able to dispose of applications without the need for further sittings. The proposed amendment facilitates this. The two remaining amendments are consequential on Amendment No. 79.

Moved, That the House do agree with the Commons in their Amendment No. 78.—(Lord Hardie.)

On Question, Motion agreed to.