Clause 23 - Controls on free distribution of printed matter

Part of Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Bill – in a Public Bill Committee am 3:45 pm ar 20 Ionawr 2005.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Alun Michael Alun Michael Minister of State (Rural Affairs), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 3:45, 20 Ionawr 2005

I offer a final thought; if an individual claimed in defence that he was putting out political material, it would be for the prosecution to show that that was not true, and for the court to make a judgment. Often when such issues are discussed in theoretical terms it sounds as if it might be easy for someone to get away with breaking the law, but when the evidence is looked at objectively by a court it becomes clear whether something is on the wrong side of the line. We cannot solve the individual case that the hon. Lady has raised this morning unless we table an amendment to insert the formula ''political parties, except for'' the one that she has a problem with. That would be making the Bill a little too specific.