Protection from Harassment Act

HC Deb 22 June 1998 vol 314 cc359-60W

Mr. Beith

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 will be implemented. [46230]

Mr. Hoon

I have been asked to reply.

Sections 4 and 5 of the Act are already in force. Subsections 1 and 2 of section 3 are also in force. Subsections 3–9 of section 3 will be brought into force when the work needed to finalise the relevant rules of court is complete. The final period of consultation closed on 12 June and the draft rules will very shortly be submitted to the appropriate rules committees. We expect both the rules and the commencement order for the outstanding provisions of the Act to come into force in September.