§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they intend to take steps to rectify the continuing failure, referred to in the Law Commission's Thirtieth Annual Report 1995 (Law Com. No. 239), to implement the Law Commission's reports on criminal law; and, if not why not; and
Whether they intend to implement the Law Commission's report on Conspiracy to Defraud 1994 (Law Com. No. 228); and if not, why not.
§ The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Blatch)The Government value the work of the Law Commission, which has led to many valuable reforms of the criminal law. One measure currently before Parliament is the proposal to abolish the year and a day rule in homicide, which I hope will become law this session.
Final decisions have yet to be taken on four other Law Commission reports relating to the criminal law, and these are currently under consideration. In particular, we are undertaking further work to assess the Law Commission's proposals for reform of the law on offences against the person.
The Government are committed to introducing a Bill to combat loan fraud, as recommended by the Law Commission in their report, Conspiracy to Defraud, as soon as a suitable legislative opportunity arises.