§ The Lord Privy Seal (Lord Belstead)My Lords, I beg to move the Motion standing in my name on the Order Paper.
Moved, That a Select Committee be appointed to consider
this consideration to include such matters as the sentencing judge's power to recommend a minimum period of detention and the means by which the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland take judicial advice on individual cases where a life sentence has been imposed.—(Lord Belstead.)
- (a) the scope and definition of the crime of murder in England and Wales and in Scotland;
- (b) the question whether imprisonment for life should remain a mandatory rather than a maximum penalty for murder; and
- (c) the working of the arrangements for reaching decisions on the release of those serving life sentences for murder;
On Question, Motion agreed to.