On 19 October, 2004, Baroness Scotland announced that the Government would place a new fraud bill before the House when parliamentary time allows. This announcement is the latest stage in a process that has been going on for a number of years.
In April 1998, the then home secretary asked the Law Commission to examine the law on fraud. The commission published a consultation paper on the subject in April 1999 and a report of its recommendations (succinctly entitled Fraud) followed in July 2002. While this commitment to create the Law Commission’s proposed offences is to be applauded, the Government has, however, made clear it is rejecting one of the commission’s key proposals, namely the abolition of conspiracy to defraud. It also proposes to reform the privilege against self-incrimination in respect of civil proceedings relating to property.
