UK Parliament / Open data

Ivory Bill

Proceeding contribution from Baroness Jones of Whitchurch (Labour) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 24 October 2018. It occurred during Debate on bills on Ivory Bill.

My Lords, the Minister and I agree that it was never our intention to criminalise Mrs Smith at the car-boot sale, and that is part of the argument that I had intended to set out. We were trying to criminalise those people who were playing the game and deliberately trying to mislead people. I am pleased that the Minister said that there was no defence of ignorance in UK law. Our worry was that that was exactly how her wording came across, because the original amendment says that an offence is being committed only if the person knew or ought to have known or suspected than the item contained ivory; that implied a defence of ignorance.

However, I hear what the Minister says: we have to look at subsections (2) and (3) together, and, perhaps because of the late hour, I will not choose to pursue it on this occasion. I therefore beg leave to withdraw the amendment.

About this proceeding contribution

Reference

793 c931 

Session

2017-19

Chamber / Committee

House of Lords chamber

Legislation

Ivory Bill 2017-19
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