Parliamentary Standards Bill

The hon. and learned Gentleman must read clause 9 in conjunction with clause 10, one of the consequences of which is that if a Member said in a debate, as the right hon. Member for Birkenhead (Mr. Field) did openly yesterday, "I do not approve of this legislation, I do not see how it can work and I will probably be subject to an offence under it. If I am, I will not pay the fine and I will go prison", those words could be adduced in court proceedings. Prosecuting counsel could say, "You say that this was an accidental mistake, but in fact your own words, as reported in Hansard, incriminate you."