Examination of Witnesses (Questions 20
- 21)
MONDAY 24 OCTOBER 2005
MS PAMELA
DIX, MS
SOPHIE TARASSENKO
AND MS
ANNE JONES
Q20 Harry Cohen: A minister made
a recent speech on this area and said that really we should focus
on the consensus, what we can agree on in this Bill, and not re-open
disagreements. Would you go along with that way of thinking, or
do you think that leaves it just too weak? What is your feeling
about that?
Ms Dix: Can I say that consensus
is likely to create the lowest common denominator. What would
be the point?
Q21 Harry Cohen: If these other issues
are still raised then the danger is that the Bill could be delayed?
Ms Dix: We have thought long and
hard about this issue and actually there is no easy answer, because
we have spent many years, as we have already rehearsed today,
trying to get to a point at which there is a workable Bill. I
would emphasise our words from 1990, that is "a workable
process of law." We were talking about this just before we
came in through the door and we do not have a categorical answer.
We are tempted to say that this would be worse than no Bill, particularly
if there are no substantial amendments made to it.
Harry Cohen: That is interesting.
Chairman: Thank you very much indeed.
It is a very difficult question and thank you for answering it
as you have done. That was all too brief, I am afraid, but we
need to move on to our next witnesses. Can we thank the three
of you for your answers and your helpfulness. Thank you very much
indeed.
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