Part of Proceeds of Crime Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 4:30 pm ar 27 Tachwedd 2001.
David Wilshire
Ceidwadwyr, Spelthorne
4:30,
27 Tachwedd 2001
In so far as it is possible to go down that route before you try to stop me, Mr. McWilliam, my hon. Friend is right. I had considered that that was one of the issues. However, it seems to me that a reference to a change in the value of money should, in legal terms, be much more specific than that general statement allows. If the Minister confirms my supposition—that it means that if inflation has taken its toll, one must compare the real value of the original order with the current value of the subsequent one—the Bill should say so.
On the basis that politicians of all political persuasions are adept at using the statistics that suit their purpose best, simply referring to inflation will not necessarily ensure that one arrives at a factual figure for the absolute percentage increase that one should apply. If my supposition is correct, the Bill could usefully include an explanation of how the change in the value of money should be calculated. Should it be with reference to the retail prices index or other statistics, given that there are statistics, damned statistics and lies and we do not want a court to go down that avenue? My hon. Friend the Member for Cities of London and Westminster (Mr. Field) said that not only are we talking about the value of money—I assume that the Bill refers to the changes in the value of sterling—but it is appropriate for someone of my political persuasion—
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