Lord Actonasked Her Majesty's Government:
What plans they have to reform the law relating to involuntary manslaughter and in particular corporate manslaughter. [HL2578]
§ Lord Bassam of BrightonMy right honourable friend the Home Secretary has today issued a consultation document containing the Government's proposals on how the law on involuntary manslaughter might be reformed. The paper accepts and builds on the Law Commission's proposals contained in its report No. 237Legislating the Criminal Code: Involuntary Manslaughter.
Copies of the consultation document have been placed in the Library.
This is an important document dealing with a complex area of the law but one which most commentators accept is in need of reform. The Government are deeply indebted to the Law Commission, not only for the detailed consideration it gave to this subject in its report No. 237 but also for its continuing help by participating in the interdepartmental working group we set up to consider its proposals.
The consultation document concentrates on those areas of the Law Commission's proposals which are more contentious or where, for the reasons set out in the document, we have taken a different view from the Law Commission. In a number of areas we have not come to any conclusion but are seeking comments on possible options.
We wish to clarify and rationalise the existing law relating to individual involuntary homicide and we agree with the Law Commission that the law relating to corporate liability for involuntary manslaughter is in need of radical reform. Our proposals in this respect raise important and difficult issues of policy, principle and practice.
I would urge all those who are concerned about the reform of the law on involuntary manslaughter to read this paper and respond to it.
76WAreconviction rates for this prison are not directly comparable with reconviction rates for other prisons.