§ Mr. David EvansTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in theOfficial Report, the recommendations from the House of Lords Select Committee on Murder and Life Imprisonment which have been accepted wholly or in part by Her Majesty's Government; indicating which, if any, have already been implemented.
§ Mr. John PattenThe White Paper "Crime, Justice and Protecting the Public" (Cm 965) announced our decision that the mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for the crime of murder should remain to mark the heinous nature of this crime. We are carefully considering the Select Committee recommendations on the release of prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment made by the House of Lords Select Committee on Murder and Life Imprisonment. I welcome the recommendations to improve the arrangements for victims' families, and the recent victims' charter endorses this approach.