§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission a study on the implications for penal policy and deterrence of a statutory minimum penalty, subject to reduction only in exceptional circumstances, for the crime of manslaughter; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MellorThe argument against statutory minimum penalties is that they would unduly constrain the court's ability to take the circumstances of the offence and the offender fully into account in passing sentence. This applies with particular force to the offence of manslaughter, which varies greatly in degree of seriousness. The courts already have the benefit of full guidance in judgments of the Court of Appeal on sentencing in cases of manslaughter. We do not therefore believe that a study would be worthwhile.