§ Mr. OnslowTo ask the Attorney-General what recent steps the Lord Chancellor has taken, in his capacity as chairman of the Magistrates Association, to review policy166W in sentencing those responsible for causing water pollution through farming operations; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Attorney-GeneralThe Lord Chancellor does not review the policy in sentencing of those responsible for causing water pollution through farming operations. However, as indicated in a previous answer to my hon. Friend,Official Report, 26 October 1987, column 14, the Lord Chancellor, as president of the Magistrates Association, on occasion expresses his personal views on the approach to sentencing for certain offences. When speaking to the Buckinghamshire magistrates on 18 April 1986, Lord Chancellor Hailsham drew attention to the need to impose in this category of offence fines high enough to establish that this type of illegal act can be seen not to pay.