Does my hon. Friend believe that magistrates take a suitably robust approach to the obnoxious practice, prevalent in my constituency and across the country, of distraction burglaries, which are particularly aimed at older people, the most vulnerable in our community?

Does my hon. Friend believe that magistrates take a suitably robust approach to the obnoxious practice, prevalent in my constituency and across the country, of distraction burglaries, which are particularly aimed at older people, the most vulnerable in our community?

That is an interesting and important point but it is not one for the law on fraud. The hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) emphasised the need to ensure that the law is as simple as possible. The Bill will do that—it will help to simplify a range...

That is an interesting and important point but it is not one for the law on fraud. The hon. Member for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy (Mr. Llwyd) emphasised the need to ensure that the law is as simple as possible. The Bill will do that—it will help to simplify a range...

The hon. Gentleman is making a case to show how the world of fraud has changed in recent years, but is not the truth of the matter or the real nub the very ancient problem that, as Shakespeare put it:"““There is no art to find the mind’s construction in the...

The hon. Gentleman is making a case to show how the world of fraud has changed in recent years, but is not the truth of the matter or the real nub the very ancient problem that, as Shakespeare put it:"““There is no art to find the mind’s construction in the...

The Solicitor-General has used the precise expression ““a fiduciary duty””, which would already provide a definition that appears currently to be absent from clause 4. In saying that, I emphasise that he might be able to persuade me during our proceedings that the current wording is better; I simply wish...

The Solicitor-General has used the precise expression ““a fiduciary duty””, which would already provide a definition that appears currently to be absent from clause 4. In saying that, I emphasise that he might be able to persuade me during our proceedings that the current wording is better; I simply wish...

I join in the general welcome for the Bill and for the way in which the Solicitor-General and the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) opened the debate. There is a general view that the Law Commission has done an extremely good job in addressing issues relating to the prosecution...

I join in the general welcome for the Bill and for the way in which the Solicitor-General and the hon. Member for Beaconsfield (Mr. Grieve) opened the debate. There is a general view that the Law Commission has done an extremely good job in addressing issues relating to the prosecution...

Fraud Bill (HL). Second reading debate. Agreed to on question. Programme motion for proceedings in Committee, on Report and Third reading agreed to on question (formal)

Fraud Bill (HL). Second reading debate. Agreed to on question. Programme motion for proceedings in Committee, on Report and Third reading agreed to on question (formal)

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his good wishes. There is always a race between the police and the criminal. The police are always racing to keep up with the criminal, but in the brief time I have been in post I have been to the Serious Organised Crime Agency...

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his good wishes. There is always a race between the police and the criminal. The police are always racing to keep up with the criminal, but in the brief time I have been in post I have been to the Serious Organised Crime Agency...

I congratulate the Minister on his promotion. Clearly criminals are increasingly using more sophisticated IT methods, on which the police will need to be constantly trained and retrained. Can he give the House some assurance that the police have systems in place to be able to do that and that...

I congratulate the Minister on his promotion. Clearly criminals are increasingly using more sophisticated IT methods, on which the police will need to be constantly trained and retrained. Can he give the House some assurance that the police have systems in place to be able to do that and that...

I referred to the issue of the suborning of a police officer. Everyone in the Chamber seemed to be nodding their heads. I recognise that the Minister may not be able to respond directly to that today but it is an issue that has been lying around for quite a...

I referred to the issue of the suborning of a police officer. Everyone in the Chamber seemed to be nodding their heads. I recognise that the Minister may not be able to respond directly to that today but it is an issue that has been lying around for quite a...

The Solicitor-General informs me that he is happy to do that in due course.

The Solicitor-General informs me that he is happy to do that in due course.

As the Minister happens to be mentioning advice that will be given, I wonder whether the Solicitor-General could provide me and perhaps other members of the Committee with the guidance on the use of the conspiracy to defraud offence. It was mentioned in the debate in another place but so...

As the Minister happens to be mentioning advice that will be given, I wonder whether the Solicitor-General could provide me and perhaps other members of the Committee with the guidance on the use of the conspiracy to defraud offence. It was mentioned in the debate in another place but so...

This is the first occasion on which I have spoken as a Minister in a Second Reading debate. As I am not a lawyer, I rise with a slight degree of apprehension, which is why I was grateful to the hon. and learned Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) for saying...

This is the first occasion on which I have spoken as a Minister in a Second Reading debate. As I am not a lawyer, I rise with a slight degree of apprehension, which is why I was grateful to the hon. and learned Member for Harborough (Mr. Garnier) for saying...

Well, that is J rather than L. They are different letters of the alphabet, and we are making progress. In short, there is a foreseeable potential problem with relationships that can be the subject of abuse, which could then lead to fraud. We must bear in mind the distinction between...

Well, that is J rather than L. They are different letters of the alphabet, and we are making progress. In short, there is a foreseeable potential problem with relationships that can be the subject of abuse, which could then lead to fraud. We must bear in mind the distinction between...

My hon. Friend makes a valid point, and to the Solicitor-General’s credit, he did not talk about ID cards in his opening remarks. Some people say that ID cards will help to reduce fraud, but many people think that they will worsen the problem. Fraudsters will get hold of ID...

My hon. Friend makes a valid point, and to the Solicitor-General’s credit, he did not talk about ID cards in his opening remarks. Some people say that ID cards will help to reduce fraud, but many people think that they will worsen the problem. Fraudsters will get hold of ID...

My hon. Friend referred to Frank Abagnale, one of the world’s leading experts on fraud. On counterfeit measures, does my hon. Friend agree that Frank Abagnale has stated that most modern identification cards can be counterfeited at least within 18 months and, possibly, two years?

My hon. Friend referred to Frank Abagnale, one of the world’s leading experts on fraud. On counterfeit measures, does my hon. Friend agree that Frank Abagnale has stated that most modern identification cards can be counterfeited at least within 18 months and, possibly, two years?

For the record, it was a Justice briefing.

For the record, it was a Justice briefing.

I am delighted that someone such as my hon. Friend the Member for Broxbourne (Mr. Walker) has found this afternoon’s debate such an enjoyable occasion, because, as he knows, the Government are here to provide us with pleasure, and they have, in fact, done it 53 times since 1997. This...

I am delighted that someone such as my hon. Friend the Member for Broxbourne (Mr. Walker) has found this afternoon’s debate such an enjoyable occasion, because, as he knows, the Government are here to provide us with pleasure, and they have, in fact, done it 53 times since 1997. This...

I must confess that the hon. Gentleman has foxed me with that intervention. Being a man of limited intellect, I was never a great student of Shakespeare, but perhaps we can meet afterwards to talk it through. I am sure that he is talking perfect sense and thank him for...

I must confess that the hon. Gentleman has foxed me with that intervention. Being a man of limited intellect, I was never a great student of Shakespeare, but perhaps we can meet afterwards to talk it through. I am sure that he is talking perfect sense and thank him for...

The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. I hope that my point is not as poor as he thinks and that the Minister will respond to it here or in Committee. My final concern relates to the decision to retain the offence of conspiracy to defraud. I understand some of...

The hon. Gentleman makes a good point. I hope that my point is not as poor as he thinks and that the Minister will respond to it here or in Committee. My final concern relates to the decision to retain the offence of conspiracy to defraud. I understand some of...

The hon. Gentleman makes a poor point, but a better point is that many people deliberately buy Sky boxes and take them to Spain, France, Germany or Italy, so that they can use UK rights, which they had not bought, to watch in other countries.

The hon. Gentleman makes a poor point, but a better point is that many people deliberately buy Sky boxes and take them to Spain, France, Germany or Italy, so that they can use UK rights, which they had not bought, to watch in other countries.