http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... 301279650AGovernment backs data-sharing moves
(UKPA) – 25 April 2012
Britain should sign up to a new European directive on crime and justice data-sharing despite it potentially having a substantially negative impact on the country, the Government has said.
Tory MPs led arguments against the directive, claiming the UK should exercise its opt-out to escape the new regulations.
But ministers won a vote in the Commons 267 to 24, majority 243, pledging to take forthcoming opportunities to improve the new directive.
Justice Minister Crispin Blunt said agreeing bilaterals with European countries to preserve the good aspects to data-sharing would inevitably force Britain into many of the same requirements.
But intervening early in the Commons debate, former Tory shadow home secretary David Davis said: "In your own department's impact analysis, the summary of the overall impact is it will be 'substantially negative'. Given that, can you explain why you don't want to opt out?"
...
