Protection of Freedoms Bill. Programme motion (No. 4) on consideration of Lords amendments agreed to on question. Lords amendments considered. Lords amendments agreed to, some as amended. Other Lords amendments disagreed to. Committee appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to certain of their Amendments. Reason reported and agreed to. Message to the Lords to communicate the said Reason, with the bill and amendments.

Protection of Freedoms Bill. Programme motion (No. 4) on consideration of Lords amendments agreed to on question. Lords amendments considered. Lords amendments agreed to, some as amended. Other Lords amendments disagreed to. Committee appointed to draw up Reasons to be assigned to the Lords for disagreeing to certain of their...

I beg to move amendment (b) to Lords amendment 51.

I beg to move amendment (b) to Lords amendment 51.

The need for legislation to create a distinctive offence of stalking has been clear for some time. I therefore start the debate by welcoming the Government's willingness to respond to these calls for such legislation. Our amendments reflect the need to ensure that this opportunity for progress is not missed...

The need for legislation to create a distinctive offence of stalking has been clear for some time. I therefore start the debate by welcoming the Government's willingness to respond to these calls for such legislation. Our amendments reflect the need to ensure that this opportunity for progress is not missed...

The hon. Lady is making a powerful point about Scotland. Scotland moved straight from ““breach of the peace”” legislation to legislation on stalking, so the comparison is quite dramatic. We in England and Wales are in a slightly better position, but the comparison is nevertheless invidious, which is why the...

The hon. Lady is making a powerful point about Scotland. Scotland moved straight from ““breach of the peace”” legislation to legislation on stalking, so the comparison is quite dramatic. We in England and Wales are in a slightly better position, but the comparison is nevertheless invidious, which is why the...

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this short debate. Lords amendments 16 and 17 were supported in another place by Lord Selsdon. I welcome the debate about powers of entry and look forward to the Minister's response to the points that I will put to him. When...

I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this short debate. Lords amendments 16 and 17 were supported in another place by Lord Selsdon. I welcome the debate about powers of entry and look forward to the Minister's response to the points that I will put to him. When...

Is there a timetable for the conclusion of the review of previous powers? It would be helpful to know, before we pass any further legislation, what the result of the review entailed.

Is there a timetable for the conclusion of the review of previous powers? It would be helpful to know, before we pass any further legislation, what the result of the review entailed.

If the right hon. Gentleman refers to the Bill, he will see that the time period contemplated is two years, in order to allow proper consideration of all the relevant 1,300 to 1,400 powers of entry. This is not something that will simply lie in abeyance. The review of all...

If the right hon. Gentleman refers to the Bill, he will see that the time period contemplated is two years, in order to allow proper consideration of all the relevant 1,300 to 1,400 powers of entry. This is not something that will simply lie in abeyance. The review of all...

What ultimate sanctions are in place in the event that the two-year review is not completed by any Department?

What ultimate sanctions are in place in the event that the two-year review is not completed by any Department?

As the hon. Lady will be aware, the provisions relate to the consent of the parents. They say that the consent of one parent is required, but it is left open to the other parent to object, and such an objection would stand. If need be, in the light of...

As the hon. Lady will be aware, the provisions relate to the consent of the parents. They say that the consent of one parent is required, but it is left open to the other parent to object, and such an objection would stand. If need be, in the light of...

I welcome the amendment, but does the Secretary of State agree that the public's severe lack of confidence in the criminal justice system's ability to deal with stalking is a major problem, and that legislation, while welcome, is not the whole solution? We also need training for officers; that is...

I welcome the amendment, but does the Secretary of State agree that the public's severe lack of confidence in the criminal justice system's ability to deal with stalking is a major problem, and that legislation, while welcome, is not the whole solution? We also need training for officers; that is...

That is an important point. We have seen how long it has taken the police to treat domestic violence as seriously as it should be treated. The Home Secretary's comments show that victims are sometimes told that it is nice to receive that sort of attention. There is also the...

That is an important point. We have seen how long it has taken the police to treat domestic violence as seriously as it should be treated. The Home Secretary's comments show that victims are sometimes told that it is nice to receive that sort of attention. There is also the...

Of course, what we want is for the issue to be addressed properly earlier; we want victims to have the confidence to come forward, knowing that what they say will be taken seriously, so that the matter can be dealt with properly before it gets to the point of physical...

Of course, what we want is for the issue to be addressed properly earlier; we want victims to have the confidence to come forward, knowing that what they say will be taken seriously, so that the matter can be dealt with properly before it gets to the point of physical...

I am happy to tell the hon. Lady that we will indeed keep the legislation under review. The last thing we want to do is to find that the legislation is being misinterpreted. The reason it is set out in the terms, ““The following are examples,”” is precisely to send...

I am happy to tell the hon. Lady that we will indeed keep the legislation under review. The last thing we want to do is to find that the legislation is being misinterpreted. The reason it is set out in the terms, ““The following are examples,”” is precisely to send...

I have been following the right hon. Gentleman's argument with some interest. Would it not be more consistent with his argument about prevention if everyone's details were put on a DNA database—not that I am recommending such a course of action?

I have been following the right hon. Gentleman's argument with some interest. Would it not be more consistent with his argument about prevention if everyone's details were put on a DNA database—not that I am recommending such a course of action?

I beg to move, That this House disagrees with Lords amendment 16.

I beg to move, That this House disagrees with Lords amendment 16.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the Government just a little leeway, after only two years, in untangling the giant pile of messy powers of entry that his Government left the coalition?

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the Government just a little leeway, after only two years, in untangling the giant pile of messy powers of entry that his Government left the coalition?

The hon. Gentleman has walked directly into my fist. ““Modern Conservatism: Our Quality of Life Agenda”” stated:"““When he became Prime Minister, Gordon Brown pledged to introduce a new liberty test to curtail powers of entry…He commissioned Lord West to undertake a review of entry powers. A final report by Lord...

The hon. Gentleman has walked directly into my fist. ““Modern Conservatism: Our Quality of Life Agenda”” stated:"““When he became Prime Minister, Gordon Brown pledged to introduce a new liberty test to curtail powers of entry…He commissioned Lord West to undertake a review of entry powers. A final report by Lord...

The review is a specific statutory requirement, and we are focused on ensuring that it is undertaken with all due expedition. The right hon. Gentleman will be aware of the requirements of the ministerial code and other requirements on Departments and Ministers to abide by the law. In addition, the...

The review is a specific statutory requirement, and we are focused on ensuring that it is undertaken with all due expedition. The right hon. Gentleman will be aware of the requirements of the ministerial code and other requirements on Departments and Ministers to abide by the law. In addition, the...

The amendments would provide that powers of entry may be exercised only with the agreement of the occupier of the premises in question or on the authority of a warrant, unless the authority using the power"““can demonstrate that the aim of the use of the power would be frustrated if...

The amendments would provide that powers of entry may be exercised only with the agreement of the occupier of the premises in question or on the authority of a warrant, unless the authority using the power"““can demonstrate that the aim of the use of the power would be frustrated if...