§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he intends to bring forward proposals for harder penalties for crimes of rape and assault.
§ Mr. WhitelawThe maximum penalties for rape and wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm are already life imprisonment, and there are substantial maximum penalties for other types of assault. The law relating to offences against the person, and sexual offences, including the penalties, is under review by the Criminal Law Revision Committee. I therefore have no plans at present to alter the maximum penalties for rape and assault.