HC Deb 25 November 1997 vol 301 c451W
Mr. Swinney

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average custodial sentence applied for manslaughter in England in each year since 1990; and if he will make a statement. [17087]

Mr. Michael

Information for 1990 to 1996 is given in the following table:

Average sentence length1 given at the Crown Court for offences of manslaughter 1990 to 1996
England
Offence/year People sentenced to immediate custody Average sentence length1 (months) Number of life sentences
Manslaughter (Common Law and Offences Against the Person Act 1861, sections 5, 9 and 10)
1990 128 56.6 9
1991 145 53.9 10
1992 200 58.9 10
1993 167 63.3 8
1994 160 60.0 5
1995 166 58.5 6
1996 196 61.3 13
Manslaughter due to diminished responsibility (Homicide Act 1957, section 2)
1990 8 51.0 2
1991 12 64.0 6
1992 6 72.0 3
1993 11 57.3 2
1994 9 51.0 3
1995 13 55.5 5
1996 7 61.0 1
1 Excludes life sentences.

Apart from the requirement under the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 for the courts to give automatic life sentences for people convicted of manslaughter for a second time, and within the statutory limits set by Parliament, sentences in individual cases are a matter for the courts.