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Mr. Straw: That is one of the most difficult areas of the law of evidence. People's previous character should not be dragged gratuitously into trials as proof of their guilt of the offences with which they are charged. Previous character should be adduced only if it is probative of the offence for which they are being tried. As the hon. Gentleman will know, if a defendant challenges the character of any witness, he has to put his own character in. We have no plans to change the law in that area, and I understand that the Law Commission has considered the issue of character. It may consider it again and, if it does, we shall consider its report. The current rules exist to ensure not only that the guilty are convicted, but that the innocent--including those with previous convictions who are innocent--are not unjustly convicted.
Mr. Vernon Coaker (Gedling): Is my right hon. Friend aware of the huge frustration in many communities, not least in my constituency, at the failure of the police and local authorities, such as Gedling borough council, to use the anti-social behaviour orders--the parenting and curfew orders--and allow young people to terrorise the elderly and people who live near parks? Will he do all he can to continue to encourage local authorities and the police to use those orders to tackle that blight on our communities?
Mr. Straw: Yes, and I congratulate my hon. Friend on the leadership that he is showing--as I know from my right hon. Friend the Minister of State--in his constituency. It is frustrating, because those police services and local authorities that have used anti-social behaviour orders--or injunctions in respect of social housing tenants--have discovered that they can solve the
problem more effectively than by simply resorting to charging those involved with minor public order offences, and they can save time, and much money, in the future.
Dr. Brian Iddon (Bolton, South-East): I, too, welcome any attempt to connect the drug misuser with responsive treatment services. However, there are long waiting lists of volunteers for treatment at the moment despite what my right hon. Friend has said. Can he assure me that adequate training programmes exist to get enough people in place by 2001 and will he also recognise that up to 50 per cent. of those presenting for treatment are also likely be suffering from mental illness? That is not widely recognised, but if we do not begin to recognise dual diagnosis, the revolving door will merely spin faster.
Mr. Straw: We are investing considerable additional resources in drug treatment and testing, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and I are examining whether that money is well spent. Of course I understand that many of those with serious drug addiction problems--I do not know the exact number--also have problems with mental illness. We must stop such people committing crimes if we are to ensure that they are properly treated.
Mr. Hilary Benn (Leeds, Central): Will my right hon. Friend remind the police and local authorities that anti-social behaviour orders can be used to deal with anti-social behaviour in privately owned or rented dwellings? After all, if such anti-social behaviour occurred in a council or housing association property, those responsible could be subject to eviction.
Mr. Straw: One reason why we designed the anti-social behaviour orders was because of the concern of local authorities and the police that the avenue of an eviction order was not available, in most cases, for tenants of private landlords. Anti-social behaviour orders can be used to deal with private tenants, owner-occupiers, juveniles over 10, and they do not have to be used as a last resort.
Orders of the Day
Electronic Communications Bill
Madam Speaker:
I should inform the House that I have selected the amendment which stands in the name of the Leader of the Opposition.
[Relevant documents: The Trade and Industry Committee reported on the Draft Electronic Communications Bill in its Fourteenth Report of Session 1998-99, HC 862. Its Seventh Report, on Building Confidence in Electronic Commerce: The Government's Proposals, HC 187, and the Government's response thereto, contained in Promoting Electronic Commerce, Cm 4417.]
Order for Second Reading read.
4.36 pm
The Minister for Small Business and E-Commerce (Ms Patricia Hewitt): I beg to move, That the Bill be now read a Second time.
When my grandmother left Britain nearly 100 years ago, it took her months to reach Australia, and it took months for her first letter to reach home. These days, a letter takes less than a week, but an e-mail takes less than a minute. That is just one small example of how our world is being transformed by electronic networks.
The Electronic Communications Bill will modernise our laws for the world of e-mail and the internet. It is just part of our strategy to make this country the best place in the world for electronic commerce.
Electronic networks--the convergence of communications and computing--are changing everything. They destroy jobs and create new ones at quite terrifying speed. Already in the United Kingdom, one in six people works for companies that did not exist five years ago. Networks have transformed global trade, creating financial markets in which billions of dollars are moved around the world daily. They are transforming manufacturing, allowing global teams of engineers to work around the world, around the clock, designing new products and testing them in simulation before the prototype is even built. They are transforming education, and they will certainly transform politics. Indeed, I must congratulate the hon. Member for Rutland and Melton (Mr. Duncan) on achieving a parliamentary first--an electronic petition. I am not sure whether the House is yet equipped to receive an electronic petition electronically--I fear not. When I saw the electronic petition in my in-box this morning, and when I saw "You've got mail", I confess that I was not thinking of the hon. Gentleman.
Our goal is clear. This country led the world into the first industrial revolution, and now we are determined to be winners in the new economy. Our strategy for that is also clear. We need modern, competitive markets that will enable the fast growth of electronic commerce; confident consumers with the skills and access to exploit the potential of the internet; and a leading-edge Government, who are exploiting to the full the potential of the new technologies to transform the ways in which we deliver services to citizens and citizens communicate with the Government.
Mr. Dale Campbell-Savours (Workington):
One of the biggest impediments to the use of the internet in my constituency, where incomes are generally low, is the cost. How can British Telecom retain the right to charge
Ms Hewitt:
My hon. Friend is absolutely right about the importance of reducing internet access costs. I represent a similar constituency, and low-income consumers--indeed, all consumers--can already benefit at weekends and off-peak times from some of the lowest internet access charges in the world. The real difficulty arises with peak-time access. We need to get the costs of that down, and we need tariffs that allow unmetered access. Oftel has made it clear repeatedly that there is no regulatory barrier to that, and it is considering BT's recent proposal for a new wholesale pricing system. Today, Oftel announced a new consultation on the matter of digital subscriber lines in the local loop; tomorrow, it will announce its decision on local loop unbundling, and how it intends to progress on that matter.
Mr. Deputy Speaker (Sir Alan Haselhurst):
Mr. Brian White.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
My hon. Friend the Minister--
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
Order. I hope that the Minister will assist me. When several hon. Members stand to intervene in her speech, it would help to know to whom she is giving way.
Mr. Campbell-Savours:
My hon. Friend the Minister said that there was no regulatory obstacle to getting costs down. However, BT is recognised to be the main provider: it has a real monopoly, and needs to be pushed. Costs will be reduced not because BT volunteers to lose some profits, but because the company will be required by Parliament to do so--even though we recognise that it is a private company. My constituents want the same free, day-time service from BT that internet users in America enjoy.
Mr. Deputy Speaker:
I appeal to hon. Members to make short interventions, especially if they are repetitive.
Ms Hewitt:
I have already made BT aware of my views, and of the Government's objective in this matter. However, I remind my hon. Friend that BT has to set interconnection charges that are fair. Because of that, prices are already coming down. A wholesaler unhappy with the interconnection price offered by BT can go to Oftel, which will make a determination in the matter.
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