Part of Employment Bill [Lords] – in a Public Bill Committee am 5:00 pm ar 14 Hydref 2008.
Let me first thank the Minister for his comprehensive response to my points. We are moving from a lax systemeveryone agrees on thatthat does not work especially well, to a tougher regime. No one has a problem with moving to a tougher or better regime, but the question is whether we have retained proportionality, because of the level to which we are increasing the powers. I have voiced the Oppositions doubts on that.
It could be that because the powers of investigation in the clause are triggered only by an indictable offence, we move from a lax regime that brings no prosecutions, to an extremely harsh regime, rather than to a system that brings more prosecutions for non-indictable offences, say. The enforcement authorities would have to go for an indictable offence to get the investigatory powers, and I can understand why businesses are concerned that we are going from one end of the spectrum to the other.
That is as far as I wish to take the matter at this stage, but on the basis that we are going to think further about the measure, I beg to ask leave to withdraw the amendment.