Lord Baker of Dorking
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(1 year, 7 months ago)
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Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)
It is felt that certain other types of activity associated with vagrancy should be looked into, including things such as nuisance and organised begging.
Lord Baker of Dorking (Con)
My Lords, is the Minister aware that the Vagrancy Act 1824 was introduced because many soldiers who had fought in the Napoleonic Wars had no employment and resorted to begging? As far as I know, from our recent war in Iraq, no vagrants are now begging. Does the Minister not think that he ought to catch up with what has happened in the last 200 years?
Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con)
I thank my noble friend for the history lesson.