§ Mr. David StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his policy on the use of sunset clauses in legislation; and which Acts containing such clauses relevant to his Department were passed in each year since 1997. [149332]
§ Mr. BlunkettThe Home Office actively promotes the better regulation agenda and the use of sunsetting where appropriate.
The following sunset clauses have been included in legislation from the Home Office since 1997:
- (i) Section 5 of the Football (Disorder) Act 2000 (c.25)
- (ii) Section 112 of the Terrorism Act 2000 (c.11)
- (iii) Section 15(3) of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 (c.16)
- (iv) Sections 29, 105 and 123 (in conjunction with section 122 of the Anti-Terrorism, Crime and Security Act 2001 (c.24)
- (v) Section 1 of the Football (Disorder) (Amendment) Act 2002 (c. 12)
Specifically, in relation to the sunset clause relating to part 4 of the Anti-Terror, Crime and Security Act, I intend to fully debate the issues in part 4 at the time of the annual renewal of that legislation, and when the contents of Lord Newton's report on the Anti-Terror, Crime and Security Act are considered and debated in Parliament.