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10/03/2005
Terror Bill suffers second defeat in House of Lords
The row over the government's controversial Prevention of Terrorism Bill continues, following its second defeat in the House of Lords.
The government had agreed to make concessions to the Bill, including allowing judges to be responsible for issuing control orders – a series of measures for terror suspects, which include electronic tagging, a ban on the use of mobile phones and the internet and, in extreme cases, house arrest. However, the Lords have once again voted for a requirement to raise the standard of proof for control orders, as well as a 'sunset clause', proposed by the Conservatives, which would see the new Bill expire at the end of November.
Prime Minister Tony Blair has stressed that there will be no more concessions on the Bill. He told reporters today that he remained opposed to the 'sunset clause' and also warned that increasing the standard of proof could weaken the legislation.
However, Conservative Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said in an interview that he thought the government might relent and allow the 'sunset clause' to be included in the Bill. He told BBC Radio 4 that the Conservatives were trying to "give the government some cover for the next nine months" but also wanted to safeguard against "miscarriages of justice".
Liberal Democrats Shadow Home Secretary Mark Oaten has also said that his party would remain opposed to the Bill unless the amendment to raise the standard of proof was also included, along with the 'sunset clause'.
The Home Secretary Charles Clarke had earlier proposed annual reviews of the Bill.
The government needs to get the Bill passed, because the current legislation expires on Monday. If the Bill is not passed by Monday, there is a possibility that the detainees being held in Belmarsh prison could go free, although it is more likely that the current legislation would be extended. However the existing legislation, which allows foreign terror suspects to be held without trial, was ruled illegal by the House of Lords.
(KmcA)
The government had agreed to make concessions to the Bill, including allowing judges to be responsible for issuing control orders – a series of measures for terror suspects, which include electronic tagging, a ban on the use of mobile phones and the internet and, in extreme cases, house arrest. However, the Lords have once again voted for a requirement to raise the standard of proof for control orders, as well as a 'sunset clause', proposed by the Conservatives, which would see the new Bill expire at the end of November.
Prime Minister Tony Blair has stressed that there will be no more concessions on the Bill. He told reporters today that he remained opposed to the 'sunset clause' and also warned that increasing the standard of proof could weaken the legislation.
However, Conservative Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said in an interview that he thought the government might relent and allow the 'sunset clause' to be included in the Bill. He told BBC Radio 4 that the Conservatives were trying to "give the government some cover for the next nine months" but also wanted to safeguard against "miscarriages of justice".
Liberal Democrats Shadow Home Secretary Mark Oaten has also said that his party would remain opposed to the Bill unless the amendment to raise the standard of proof was also included, along with the 'sunset clause'.
The Home Secretary Charles Clarke had earlier proposed annual reviews of the Bill.
The government needs to get the Bill passed, because the current legislation expires on Monday. If the Bill is not passed by Monday, there is a possibility that the detainees being held in Belmarsh prison could go free, although it is more likely that the current legislation would be extended. However the existing legislation, which allows foreign terror suspects to be held without trial, was ruled illegal by the House of Lords.
(KmcA)
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