HC Deb 17 December 1981 vol 15 cc185-6W
Mr. Meacher

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to prevent courts from imposing, as a condition of bail, a prohibition on attendance at political meetings.

Mr. Meyhew

Section 3(6) of the Bail Act 1976 empowers a court, in granting bail, to require a defendant to comply with such requirements as appear to the court to be necessary to secure, among other things, that he does not commit an offence while on bail. It is for the courts to decide how to exercise this power. On present information, we have no reason to believe that any amendment of it is desirable.