Prevention and Suppression of Terrorism

Far be it from me to suggest that the Government are creating hot air. We have a statement from the Prime Minister that makes clear his willingness to look at the report's recommendations, and one can only anticipate that his Government will act on them. I had also hoped that we would make some progress in terms of the official Opposition's position. The hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve), and the hon. Member for Newark (Patrick Mercer) when he spoke 12 months ago, made clear their position on control orders. The hon. Member for Newark said:"““this system does not work and it has to be replaced by something competent””" and"““there have been a series of shambles.””—[Official Report, 22 February 2007; Vol. 457, c. 440-41.]" Unfortunately, despite the fact that he described control orders as ““a series of shambles””, the official Opposition then chose to vote in favour of them. The hon. Gentleman also stated 12 months ago that it was very likely that the official Opposition would again support control orders this time, and the hon. Member for Beaconsfield has made it clear that that will be the case.