00:00The proposed Hillsborough law has cleared committee stage in the House of Lords.
00:05Peers have raised questions about whether its offences should apply to paramedics.
00:10The Public Office Accountability Bill would create a legally enforceable duty of candour for public officials and authorities during investigations
00:18requiring them to act transparently.
00:21It takes its name from the Hillsborough disaster in 1989, when 97 football supporters died in a crush at the
00:27FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield.
00:29Labour peer Baroness Leavitt argued paramedics should be covered by the proposed offence of seriously improper conduct.
00:36She cited a case in which she appeared for the prosecution involving a paramedic accused of serious sexual misconduct towards
00:43a vulnerable patient.
00:44The court ruled the paramedic did not meet the legal definition of a public officer for the common law offence
00:50of misconduct in public office, so the conviction could not stand.
00:53Baroness Leavitt said people receiving emergency treatment can be vulnerable and must be able to trust those responding.
00:59Justice Minister Lord Lemos said a law commission review recommended excluding frontline healthcare workers unless they're providing services to people
01:08in state detention.
01:09He said healthcare is delivered in public and private settings and including only public sector workers could create an arbitrary
01:17distinction between people doing the same job.
01:20The bill will next reach report stage in the Lords when amendments will be voted on.
01:24It will then return to the House of Commons for approval.
01:27The bill will next to the House of Commons for the House of Commons for the House of Commons for
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01:30the House of Commons for the House of Commons for the House of Commons for the House of Commons for
01:30the House of Commons for the House of Commons for the House of Commons for the House of Commons for
01:30the House of Commons for the House of Commons for the House of Commons for the House of Commons for
01:30the House of Commons for the House of Commons for the House of Commons for the House of Commons.