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Committee of the whole House: 8th July 2008              

2990

 

Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill, continued

 
 

David Howarth

 

Chris Huhne

 

Tom Brake

 

Lynne Featherstone

 

39

 

Parliamentary Star    

Clause  12,  page  6,  line  20,  leave out ‘a magistrates’ court,’.

 


 

New Clauses

 

Expiry of power to make witness anonymity orders

 

Secretary Jack Straw

 

NC9

 

Parliamentary Star    

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

No witness anonymity order may be made under this Act after the relevant date.

 

(2)    

Subject to subsection (3) the relevant date is 31 December 2009.

 

(3)    

The Secretary of State may by order provide for the relevant date to be a date

 

specified in the order that falls not more than 12 months after—

 

(a)    

31 December 2009, or

 

(b)    

(if an order has already been made under this subsection) the date

 

specified in the last order.

 

(4)    

Nothing in this section affects—

 

(a)    

the continuation in effect of a witness anonymity order made before the

 

relevant date, or

 

(b)    

the power to discharge or vary such an order under section 6.

 

(5)    

An order under subsection (3)—

 

(a)    

is to be made by statutory instrument; and

 

(b)    

may not be made unless a draft of the instrument containing the order has

 

been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of

 

Parliament.’.

 


 

Duration of Act

 

Mr Douglas Hogg

 

Mr Elfyn Llwyd

 

NC1

 

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘This Act shall cease to have effect on the expiration of 12 months from the day

 

on which it is passed.’.

 



 
 

Committee of the whole House: 8th July 2008              

2991

 

Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill, continued

 
 

Appeal against making or refusal of order

 

Nick Herbert

 

Mr Edward Garnier

 

Mr Nick Hurd

 

Nc2

 

Parliamentary Star    

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘An appeal shall lie to the Court of Appeal from any witness anonymity order

 

made or any refusal to make a witness anonymity order under this Act but only

 

with the leave of the court or of the Court of Appeal.’.

 


 

Duration of Act (No. 2)

 

Nick Herbert

 

Mr Edward Garnier

 

Mr Nick Hurd

 

Nc3

 

Parliamentary Star    

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘This Act shall cease to have effect on 1st August 2009 unless extended by a

 

resolution of both Houses of Parliament before 31st July 2009.’.

 


 

Rules of court

 

Nick Herbert

 

Mr Edward Garnier

 

Mr Nick Hurd

 

Nc4

 

Parliamentary Star    

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

Rules of court may make such provision as appears to the appropriate authority

 

to be necessary or expedient for the purposes of this Act; and the appropriate

 

authority is the authority entitled to make the rules.

 

(2)    

The rules must contain provision requiring an applicant for a witness anonymity

 

order to serve on all other parties in the proceedings such notice, and such

 

particulars of or relating to the evidence, as may be prescribed.

 

(3)    

The rules may provide that the court may, in such circumstances as may be

 

prescribed, dispense with a requirement imposed by virtue of subsection (2).

 

(4)    

In considering the exercise of its powers with respect to costs, the court may take

 

into account any failure by a party to comply with a requirement imposed by

 

virtue of subsection (2) and not dispensed with by virtue of subsection (3).

 

(5)    

The rules may—

 

(a)    

limit the application of any provision of the rules to prescibed

 

circumstances;

 

(b)    

subject any provision of the rules to prescribed exceptions;

 

(c)    

make different provision for different cases or circumstances.


 
 

Committee of the whole House: 8th July 2008              

2992

 

Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill, continued

 
 

(6)    

Nothing in this section prejudices the generality of any enactment conferring

 

power to make rules of court; and no particular provision of this section

 

prejudices any general provision of it.

 

(7)    

In this section—

 

“prescribed” means prescibed by rules of court;

 

“rules of court” means—

 

(a) Crown Court Rules;

 

(b) Criminal Appeal Rules.’.

 


 

Duration of Act (No. 3)

 

Mr Andrew Dismore

 

Mark Fisher

 

Nc5

 

Parliamentary Star    

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘This Act shall cease to have effect at the end of the period of 18 months

 

beginning with the day on which this Act was passed.’.

 


 

Independent counsel

 

Mr Andrew Dismore

 

Mark Fisher

 

Nc6

 

Parliamentary Star    

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘The court may appoint independent counsel to test any evidence of, and to advise

 

it upon, the witness’s fears under section 4(6) and the relevant considerations

 

under section 5(2).’.

 


 

Independent counsel (No. 2)

 

David Howarth

 

Chris Huhne

 

Tom Brake

 

Lynne Featherstone

 

NC7

 

Parliamentary Star    

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

For the purposes of considering an application for a witness anonymity order, the

 

court may appoint an independent counsel to assist the court.


 
 

Committee of the whole House: 8th July 2008              

2993

 

Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill, continued

 
 

(2)    

The court may direct the independent counsel to investigate on the court’s behalf

 

any matter the court thinks fit, subject to any instruction the court thinks fit, and

 

in particular to inquire into any matter referred to in section 4(3), 4(6) or 5(2)(d).

 

(3)    

The party applying for the witness anonymity order must make available to the

 

independent counsel all information relating to the proceeding that is in that

 

party’s possession.

 

(4)    

The party applying for the witness anonymity order is responsible for paying the

 

fees of the independent counsel.’.

 


 

Expiry and revival of Act

 

David Howarth

 

Chris Huhne

 

Tom Brake

 

Lynne Featherstone

 

NC8

 

Parliamentary Star    

To move the following Clause:—

 

‘(1)    

Subject to subsection (2) this Act shall cease to have effect at the end of the period

 

of one year beginning with the day on which it is brought into force.

 

(2)    

The Secretary of State may by order provide that this Act shall continue in force

 

after the period specified in subsection (1) for specified periods not exceeding 12

 

months at a time.

 

(3)    

Any order referred to in subsection (2) shall only come into force only if approved

 

by each House of Parliament.’.

 

 

CRIMINAL EVIDENCE (WITNESS ANONYMITY) BILL: ALLOCATION OF TIME

 

Secretary Jack Straw

 

That the following provisions shall apply to the Criminal Evidence (Witness

 

Anonymity) Bill:

 

Timetable

 

1.      (1)    

Proceedings on Second Reading, in Committee, on consideration and

 

on Third Reading shall be completed at this day’s sitting in

 

accordance with the following provisions of this paragraph.

 

(2)    

Proceedings on Second Reading shall (so far as not previously

 

concluded) be brought to a conclusion three hours after the

 

commencement of proceedings on the Motion for this Order.

 

(3)    

Proceedings in Committee, on consideration and on Third Reading

 

shall (so far as not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion

 

six hours after the commencement of proceedings on the Motion for

 

this Order.

 

Timing of proceedings and Questions to be put

 

2.    

When the Bill has been read a second time—

 

(a)    

it shall (notwithstanding Standing Order No. 63 (Committal of bills

 

not subject to a programme order)) stand committed to a Committee


 
 

Committee of the whole House: 8th July 2008              

2994

 

Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill, continued

 
 

of the whole House without any Question being put; and

 

(b)    

the Speaker shall leave the Chair whether or not notice of an

 

Instruction has been given.

 

3.      (1)    

On the conclusion of proceedings in Committee, the Chairman shall

 

report the Bill to the House without putting any Question.

 

(2)    

If the Bill is reported with amendments, the House shall proceed to

 

consider the Bill as amended without any Question being put.

 

4.    

For the purpose of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in accordance

 

with paragraph 1, the Chairman or Speaker shall forthwith put the following

 

Questions (but no others)—

 

(a)    

any Question already proposed from the Chair;

 

(b)    

any Question necessary to bring to a decision a Question so

 

proposed;

 

(c)    

the Question on any amendment moved or Motion made by a

 

Minister of the Crown;

 

(d)    

any other Question necessary for the disposal of the business to be

 

concluded.

 

5.    

On a Motion so made for a new Clause or a new Schedule, the Chairman or

 

Speaker shall put only the Question that the Clause or Schedule be added to

 

the Bill.

 

6.    

If two or more Questions would fall to be put under paragraph 4(d) in relation

 

to successive provisions of the Bill, the Chairman shall instead put a single

 

question in relation to those provisions.

 

Consideration of Lords Amendments

 

7.      (1)    

Any Lords Amendments to the Bill shall be considered forthwith

 

without any Question being put.

 

(2)    

Proceedings on consideration of Lords Amendments shall (so far as

 

not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after

 

their commencement.

 

8.      (1)    

This paragraph applies for the purpose of bringing any proceedings

 

to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph 7.

 

(2)    

The Speaker shall first put forthwith any Question already proposed

 

from the Chair and not yet decided.

 

(3)    

If that Question is for the amendment of a Lords Amendment the

 

Speaker shall then put forthwith—

 

(a)    

a single Question on any further Amendments to the Lords

 

Amendment moved by a Minister of the Crown, and

 

(b)    

the Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the

 

Crown that this House agrees or disagrees to the Lords

 

Amendment or (as the case may be) to the Lords

 

Amendment as amended.

 

(4)    

The Speaker shall then put forthwith—

 

(a)    

a single Question on any Amendments moved by a Minister

 

of the Crown to a Lords Amendment, and

 

(b)    

the Question on any Motion made by a Minister of the

 

Crown that this House agrees or disagrees to the Lords

 

Amendment or (as the case may be) to the Lords

 

Amendment as amended.

 

(5)    

The Speaker shall then put forthwith the Question on any Motion

 

made by a Minister of the Crown that this House disagrees to a Lords

 

Amendment.

 

(6)    

The Speaker shall then put forthwith the Question that this House

 

agrees to all the remaining Lords Amendments.

 

(7)    

As soon as the House has—

 

(a)    

agreed or disagreed to a Lords Amendment, or


 
 

Committee of the whole House: 8th July 2008              

2995

 

Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill, continued

 
 

(b)    

disposed of an Amendment relevant to a Lords Amendment

 

which has been disagreed to.

 

    

the Speaker shall put forthwith a single Question on any

 

Amendments moved by a Minister of the Crown and relevant to the

 

Lords Amendment.

 

Subsequent stages

 

9.      (1)    

Any further Message from the Lords on the Bill shall be considered

 

forthwith without any Question being put.

 

(2)    

Proceedings on any further Message from the Lords shall (so far as

 

not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after

 

their commencement.

 

10.      (1)    

This paragraph applies for the purpose of bringing any proceedings

 

to a conclusion in accordance with paragraph 9.

 

(2)    

The Speaker shall first put forthwith any Question which has been

 

proposed from the Chair and not yet decided.

 

(3)    

The Speaker shall then put forthwith the Question on any Motion

 

made by a Minister for the Crown which is related to the Question

 

already proposed from the Chair.

 

(4)    

The Speaker shall then put forthwith the Question on any Motion

 

made by a Minister of the Crown on or relevant to any of the

 

remaining items in the Lords Message.

 

(5)    

The Speaker shall then put forthwith the Question that this House

 

agrees with the Lords in all the remaining Lords Proposals.

 

Reasons Committee

 

11.      (1)    

The Speaker shall put forthwith the Question on any Motion made by

 

a Minister for the Crown for the appointment, nomination and

 

quorum of a Committee to draw up Reasons and the appointment of

 

its Chairman.

 

(2)    

A Committee appointed to draw up Reasons shall report before the

 

conclusion of the sitting at which it is appointed.

 

(3)    

Proceedings in the Committee shall (so far as not previously

 

concluded) be brought to a conclusion 30 minutes after their

 

commencement.

 

(4)    

For the purpose of bringing any proceedings to a conclusion in

 

accordance with sub-paragraph (3), the Chairman shall—

 

(a)    

first put forthwith any Question which has been proposed

 

from the Chair but not yet decided, and

 

(b)    

then put forthwith successively Questions on motions which

 

may be made by a Minister of the Crown for assigning a

 

Reason for disagreeing with the Lords in any of their

 

Amendments.

 

(5)    

The proceedings of the Committee shall be reported without any

 

further Question being put.

 

Miscellaneous

 

12.    

Paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 15 (Exempted business) shall apply so

 

far as necessary for the purposes of this Order.

 

13.      (1)    

The proceedings on any Motion made by a Minister of the Crown for

 

varying or supplementing the provisions of this Order shall (so far as

 

not previously concluded) be brought to a conclusion one hour after

 

their commencement.

 

(2)    

Paragraph (1) of Standing Order No. 15 (Exempted business) shall

 

apply to those proceedings.


 
 

Committee of the whole House: 8th July 2008              

2996

 

Criminal Evidence (Witness Anonymity) Bill, continued

 
 

14.    

Standing Order No. 82 (Business Committee) shall not apply in relation to

 

any proceedings to which this Order applies.

 

15.      (1)    

No Motion shall be made, except by a Minister of the Crown, to alter

 

the order in which any proceedings on the Bill are taken or to

 

recommit the Bill.

 

(2)    

The Question on any such Motion shall be put forthwith.

 

16.      (1)    

No dilatory Motion shall be made in relation to proceedings to which

 

this Order applies except by a Minister of the Crown.

 

(2)    

The Question on any such Motion shall be put forthwith.

 

17.    

The Speaker may not arrange for a debate to be held in accordance with

 

Standing Order No. 24 (Adjournment on specific and important matter that

 

should have urgent consideration)—

 

(a)    

at this day's sitting, or

 

(b)    

at any sitting at which Lords Amendments to the Bill are, or any

 

further Message from the Lords is, to be considered,

 

    

before the conclusion of any proceedings to which this Order applies.

 

18.      (1)    

Sub-paragraph (2) applies if the House is adjourned, or the sitting is

 

suspended, before the conclusion of any proceedings to which this

 

Order applies.

 

(2)    

No notice shall be required of a Motion made at the next sitting by a

 

Minister of the Crown for varying or supplementing the provisions

 

of this Order.

 

19.    

Proceedings to which this Order applies shall not be interrupted under any

 

Standing Order relating to the sittings of the House.

 


 
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