§ Mr. Clark Hutchisonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will review the criminal law in Scotland with a view to proposing increased minimum sentences for those convicted of drug and vandalism offences.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThere are no minimum sentences for drug and vandalism offences; and such sentences are objectionable in principle. It is for the court to decide sentence in the light of all the circumstances of the individual offence and offender. I have no reason to suppose that the maximum powers of penalty of the courts in vandalism offences require revision; those in drug offences are at present being revised in the Misuse of Drugs Bill.