Member

The second pair of amendments, Amendments 38 and 39, relate to the later Henry VIII powers in Clause 32, and specifically to the thresholds of 200 individuals for premises to fall within scope of the Bill and 800 individuals for enhanced duty premises and qualifying events. These amendments are modest indeed. They would not remove the Henry VIII powers, despite the central importance of these thresholds to the Bill, but simply place reasonable conditions on their use. Amendment 38 provides that the minimum thresholds may be reduced only if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the reduction is justified by a change in the threat from terrorism. One would hope that reductions would not be contemplated in other circumstances but, to be properly reassured, we need to see that in the Bill.