BEAT THE CLOCK BID TO PASS LEGISLATION
Beat the clock bid to pass legislation
AS Parliament rushes through strict new anti-terror laws, Westminster Correspondent DESMOND McCARTAN looks at previous legislation to speed into the Statute Book
THE decision to speed new counter-terrorism powers into law in less than 48 hours, today prompted concerns across the political spectrum.
By asking MPs to pass all stages of the Bill at a single sitting, ministers have had to fend off accusations that, from experience, hasty law is often bad law.
It is an relatively unusual step most recently, on July 9, MPs approved the Landmines Bill in one day.
On April 2, 1996, with Labour support, the Tory Government secured all stages of the Prevention of Terrorism (Additional Powers) Bill.
However, among older MPs there is an obvious parallel with Labour's decision, immediately after the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings, to rush in the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.
MPs sat for 19 hours in continuous session in November that year to get the Bill - it later turned out to be a contentious piece of law - on to the Statute Book.
Labour MP Robin Corbett, one of those present that day, recalls now, many years later, the miscarriage of justice in the Birmingham Six case was revealed.
The Government justifies its approach by arguing that there is a need to be seen, in tune with Dublin, to tackle the threat from dissident republicans as quickly as possible.
But, even allowing for precedent, the process being deployed today is remarkable. Tony Blair announced on August 25 that Parliament would be recalled.
It was only yesterday afternoon, after a series of judicious Whitehall leaks, that the Government revealed details of the Bill - it has 10 clauses and two schedules - in draft form.
MPs will not have had time to read it - nor will many bother - before the debate.
Tomorrow, it will be the turn of the Lords to apply their minds to it.
By the time President Bill Clinton departs for the US it will have become law. Whether the RUC will use it immediately is another issue.
AS Parliament rushes through strict new anti-terror laws, Westminster Correspondent DESMOND McCARTAN looks at previous legislation to speed into the Statute Book
THE decision to speed new counter-terrorism powers into law in less than 48 hours, today prompted concerns across the political spectrum.
By asking MPs to pass all stages of the Bill at a single sitting, ministers have had to fend off accusations that, from experience, hasty law is often bad law.
It is an relatively unusual step most recently, on July 9, MPs approved the Landmines Bill in one day.
On April 2, 1996, with Labour support, the Tory Government secured all stages of the Prevention of Terrorism (Additional Powers) Bill.
However, among older MPs there is an obvious parallel with Labour's decision, immediately after the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings, to rush in the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act.
MPs sat for 19 hours in continuous session in November that year to get the Bill - it later turned out to be a contentious piece of law - on to the Statute Book.
Labour MP Robin Corbett, one of those present that day, recalls now, many years later, the miscarriage of justice in the Birmingham Six case was revealed.
The Government justifies its approach by arguing that there is a need to be seen, in tune with Dublin, to tackle the threat from dissident republicans as quickly as possible.
But, even allowing for precedent, the process being deployed today is remarkable. Tony Blair announced on August 25 that Parliament would be recalled.
It was only yesterday afternoon, after a series of judicious Whitehall leaks, that the Government revealed details of the Bill - it has 10 clauses and two schedules - in draft form.
MPs will not have had time to read it - nor will many bother - before the debate.
Tomorrow, it will be the turn of the Lords to apply their minds to it.
By the time President Bill Clinton departs for the US it will have become law. Whether the RUC will use it immediately is another issue.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0350
Published Date: 02-Sep-98
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