HC Deb 20 November 1996 vol 285 cc581-2W
24. Mr. Jacques Arnold

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to produce measures to protect the public from dangerous criminals. [3482]

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

The Government are determined to protect the public from dangerous criminals. We have produced several new measures to achieve this in the Crime and Punishment (Scotland) Bill, the most important of which is the automatic life sentence which will apply on conviction for a second serious sexual or violent offence.