§ Miss WiddecombeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the annual number of convicted offenders who would receive a shorter custodial sentence than at present if the Criminal Justice (Mode of Trial) (No. 2) Bill became law; how many offenders convicted of each type of offence would receive shorter sentences; what estimate he has made of the average reduction in the length of sentence(a) received and (b) served; and if he will make a statement. [112532]
259W
§ Mr. Charles Clarke[holding answer 2 March 2000]: It is estimated that 5,400 convicted offenders would receive shorter custodial sentences because their cases would be dealt with in the magistrates courts. This covers all categories of either-way offences. It is also assumed that the average reduction in the length of sentence (a) received would be 4.6 months and (b) served would be 2.3 months.