§ Mr. BerminghamTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has any plans ethnically to monitor sentencing decisions in magistrates' courts and Crown courts in England and Wales.
§ Mr. John PattenBecause of differences in the gravity of offences and the circumstances of offenders, it is difficult to do this routinely. Research studies provide some information, such as a study of Crown court sentencing which we hope to publish in due course.