More developments on the Terrorism Bill.

Terry
 


-----Original Message-----
From: A list for news and discussion on legal information and law
libraries. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Cook, Roger
Sent: 27 October 2005 09:54
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Terrorism Bill

Sent on behalf of Barbara Tearle:

Today I represented BIALL at a meeting of various library groups to
discuss how to proceed on library concerns about the Terrorism Bill.
This is a brief statement of the groups' concerns and action, prepared
by Tony Bainton of SCONUL:


The Terrorism Bill, today in its second reading, contains clauses (2 and
3) which are problematic for libraries.  They cover the dissemination of
terrorist publications, and in view of the wide and uncertain definition
of what may constitute a terrorist publication, librarians and their
governing bodies/institutions would be at risk of prosecution as the
clauses currently stand.  Lord Carlile, in his capacity as independent
reviewer of anti-terrorist legislation, has expressed a concern about
the potential for these clauses to criminalise academic and
parliamentary research and serious journalism:  his remarks may be said
to apply equally to libraries following their normal lawful business.
Concern has also been raised about clause 17, defining offences abroad,
which puts on an equal footing, for the purposes of the Bill, things
done in the UK and the same things done at (say) a university campus in
overseas country.

Today, representatives of library bodies met and agreed the text of a
letter which has been sent to the Home Secretary, with copies to the
Secretaries of State for Culture and Education and the all-party
libraries group of MPs.   The ad hoc group has agreed to meet again on
Monday to discuss possible follow-up action, since the timetable for the
legislation is very short.

The members of the ad hoc group are:  Toby Bainton (SCONUL), Andy
Birleson (MLA), Guy Daines (CILIP), Clive Field (The British Library),
Robin Green (CURL), Gordon Hunt (National Library of Scotland), and
Barbara Tearle (BIALL).  The letter has been signed by all those
organisations and also by SCURL and SLIC.

The text of the bill is at
http://www.parliament.uk/commons/lib/research/rp2005/rp05-066.pdf 


As you can see, the group will meet again on Monday to work on the next
steps.  It would help me immensely to have some examples of the possible
library scenarios that the Bill, if enacted in its present form, could
give rise to.  Please email me directly.

Barbara Tearle
President, BIALL
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