HL Deb 02 February 2004 vol 656 c85WA
Lord Patten

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will declare a moratorium on the introduction of further new criminal offences for the rest of this Parliament, so as to concentrate upon the enforcement of existing laws. [HL860]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The Government have no plans to introduce such a moratorium. There are important Bills currently before Parliament that create new and necessary criminal offences. One such Bill is the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Bill, which proposes a new offence of causing or allowing the death of a child or vulnerable adult. The Government do not create new criminal offences without full consideration. All proposed offences are subject to careful scrutiny to ensure that they are necessary and appropriately formulated.