§ Amendment made: No. 3, in page 5, line 43, after 'paragraphs 3,' insert '3A,'.—[Lord James Douglas-Hamilton.]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonI beg to move amendment No. 4, in page 6, line 10, leave out 'one sixth' and insert 'one quarter'.
§ Mr. Deputy SpeakerWith this it will be convenient to discuss Government amendments Nos. 238 and 240.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonAmendment No. 4 will increase the maximum period of supervision that courts may impose for offenders released from prison to the greater of two years or one quarter of the sentence. That corresponds to a similar amendment incorporated in the Crime (Sentences) Bill in respect of offenders in England and Wales. It is in response to concerns expressed by both sides of the House that the limit of one sixth presently contained in the Bill may not be sufficient to provide adequate safeguards for the protection of the public.
Amendment agreed to.