Lewes MP Norman Baker appeared on the floor of the Commons yesterday in a bid to persuade the government to repeal useless and unnecessary laws. Research conducted by the Lib Dems last month showed that Labour have created an astonishing 4,300 criminal offences since coming to power since 1997 - almost one for each day that Ministers have been in office.
And now, thanks to new research conducted by the Lib Dems, it has now emerged that almost half of Labour's criminal justice laws have not even been fully implemented.
Mr Baker told the Commons:
"May I point out to the Minister that in the 19 criminal justice Acts introduced since 1997, 68 sections and 25 schedules have not yet been fully implemented, and that of the thousands of new criminal offences that have been introduced, many are ludicrous or unnecessary, such as offering for sale a game bird killed on Christmas day?
"When are the Government going to stop their knee-jerk reaction every time a problem arises - saying that a new law is required - and have a policy of removing unwanted and unnecessary legislation?"
Lib Dem Norman Baker later commented:
"It is astonishing that the government has created such a large number of offences yet has failed to implement them. This shows how utterly worthless many of these laws are.
"It is difficult to see why, for example, we need a specific offence preventing people from selling game birds killed on Christmas Day, or banning people from detonating nuclear weapons. The latter activity, even if it could be carried out, is already amply covered by other laws. The government must stop this torrent of unwanted and unnecessary legislation.
"Under the Lib Dems, there will be a small 'stop unit' which will prevent government departments from introducing laws unless they are proved to be genuinely necessary. In the meantime, the government should review the many ways it has found to criminalise people, and repeal the most worthless."
|Home
Contact Norman at:
Norman Baker,
23 East Street,
Lewes,
East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
Tel: (01273) 480281.
Fax: (01273) 480287.
Email: info
Printed and hosted by Pipex Communications UK Ltd, Humber Buildings, Humber Rd, Beeston, Notts, NG9 2ET. Published and promoted by Norman Baker MP, House of Commons, Westminster, London SW1A 1AA. The views expressed are those of Norman Baker, not of the service provider.
