UK Parliament / Open data

Racial and Religious Hatred Bill

Perhaps I misunderstood the noble Baroness; I should be interested to know whether the noble Lord, Lord Lester, thinks it worth while for me to make a brief comment. I understand the noble Baroness to be saying that because the Human Rights Act would put something right, it does not matter that it is not expressed in the Bill. But I have in mind a case which may also have been in the thoughts of the noble Lord, Lord Lester. I refer to a case involving hundreds of lorry drivers. For some years, Customs and Excise, using Home Office legislation, would detain them, fine them very large sums and so forth until the relevant Act was struck down in the law courts. That Act was not satisfactory legislation. I cannot believe that that is how this Bill is intended to be construed. Further, the noble Baroness has not explained why either the addition of the word ““reasonable”” in the way suggested by the noble Viscount, Lord Colville, or her refusal to accept such an addition, would or would not help the position. I would be most grateful for a little further enlightenment.

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Reference

674 c1129 

Session

2005-06

Chamber / Committee

House of Lords chamber
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