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Criminal Liability in Regulatory Contexts Responses - Law ...

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MOJ<br />

1.809 Too restrictive. Parliament has legislated for Government to create offences by<br />

secondary legislation (eg enforc<strong>in</strong>g EU obligations may be created <strong>in</strong> Orders<br />

made under European Communities Act 1972). Parliament has concluded that<br />

secondary legislation provides sufficient parliamentary scrut<strong>in</strong>y <strong>in</strong> particular<br />

circumstances and it reflects the practical reality that requir<strong>in</strong>g primary legislation<br />

would significantly restrict Government’s ability to create or amend regulatory<br />

regimes. Government is content that MOJ gateway (operates equally to primary<br />

and secondary legislation) will provide a sufficient safeguard go<strong>in</strong>g forward to test<br />

necessity <strong>in</strong> a consistent and proportionate way before legislation conta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g<br />

offences if put before Parliament.<br />

Care Quality Commission (CQC)<br />

1.810 Attractive <strong>in</strong> pr<strong>in</strong>ciple but <strong>in</strong> the context of health and social care, proposal br<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

significant risks. Health and social care market place is fast-chang<strong>in</strong>g with a<br />

number of importance changes to policy and legislation through 1980s, 1990s<br />

and 2000s, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g changes underp<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g the current emphasis on flexible,<br />

responsible and personalised services.<br />

1.811 Over the years, primary legislation on health and social care regulation has often<br />

lagged beh<strong>in</strong>d changes to delivery-related legislation. The experience of<br />

predecessor regulator shows that the greater ease of develop<strong>in</strong>g secondary<br />

legislation has been essential to mak<strong>in</strong>g sure regulation is able to keep up with<br />

changes <strong>in</strong> how health and social care is delivered. CQC doubts that <strong>in</strong> their<br />

context, enforcement powers based solely on primary legislation would be<br />

responsible and flexible enough for a fast develop<strong>in</strong>g and chang<strong>in</strong>g policy and<br />

delivery environment.<br />

UK Environmental <strong>Law</strong> Association (UKELA)<br />

1.812 Given UKELA’s view that crim<strong>in</strong>al offences can be an appropriate means of<br />

implement<strong>in</strong>g European legislation, proposal seems adm<strong>in</strong>istratively unworkable.<br />

Limits on parliamentary Bill time and procedural uncerta<strong>in</strong>ties would make it<br />

unlikely that new European legislation could be implemented by the due date<br />

us<strong>in</strong>g primary legislation. This would give rise to breaches of European and<br />

<strong>in</strong>ternational obligations. If concern is that secondary legislation avoids due<br />

democratic process, perhaps more use could be made of the affirmative<br />

resolution procedure.<br />

156

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