HC Deb 26 July 1979 vol 971 c388W
Mr. Bidwell

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps, if any, are taken to prevent women on suspended sentences being imprisoned so as to run the risk of giving birth while serving sentences.

Mr. Brittan

Where an offender subject to a suspended sentence is convicted of a further offence punishable with imprisonment and committed during the period of suspension, section 23 of the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 requires the court to order the suspended sentence to be executed in full unless it is of the opinion that it would be unjust to do so. It is for the court to decide what may be considered unjust in all the circumstances which have arisen since the suspended sentence was passed.