§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sentencing guidelines exist for women with dependent children; and when these were last revised.
§ Mr. John PattenSentencing is a matter for the courts. The Court of Appeal has made it clear that custody should be used only when a court considers it absolutely necessary. We are revising the handbook "The Sentence of the Court" and the new edition will refer specifically to women offenders with family responsibilities. The national standards for community service orders, which came into effect on 1 April 1989, asked probation areas to ensure that community service placements are available for women offenders, including those who are pregnant, and offenders with young children.